Air Force Balloon Relay Photos

This is the payload flown on the launcher balloon which launched the two dropsondes. The launcher is visible at right, with the two white dropsondes (at the very bottom) under the orange parachutes and orange spreader rings. The white box on top of the launcher contains the receiver for launch commands. The yellow box at left holds the first repeater radio which received the dropsonde signals and retransmitted them to the following balloon, as well as tracking systems for recovery. The people holding the payload are from the University of Montana BOREALIS balloon group , which managed the flight of the launcher balloon (and provided the tracking systems on this balloon).

This is the entire launcher flight stack ready to go. The larger balloon in the distance was filled to allow the balloon to drift at a fixed altitude; the smaller, closer balloon provided extra lift to allow the stack to reach altitude more quickly, and was then to be cut away.

This photo, taken by the camera on the Montana State University BOREALIS balloon which was awaiting launch, captured the launcher stack immediately after launch. The launcher and yellow repeater/tracking box are visible at upper left.

The entire launcher stack shortly after launch.

The Montana State University BOREALIS balloon in flight, with the second repeater package at the very bottom of the stack.

The launcher stack at its landing site in eastern Montana.