Topic - Special Science Event
By Blog Editor Susan Wells
During Weather and Science Day, we launched a weather balloon to the edge of space. The balloon didn’t need a pilot, but we thought a scientist onboard would help bring some perspective and a first hand account of what it was like to soar 93,000 feet above the earth.
Beaker was the muppet for the job. His prep team from The Edge of Space, 9News and Steve Spangler Science helped secure him about 15 feet below the actual weather balloon. He brought along a few flags – one signed by the 9News Weather team and Steve Spangler.
The balloon was launched around 11:00 a.m.
The delicate weather balloon was 1200 grams and filled with 230 feet of helium. When it reached the edge of space, the balloon was the size of a school bus. It also carried a parachute to bring it safely back to earth after it popped, a tracking and telemetry receiver to send information about where the balloon was flying, three cameras and a beacon that gave longitude and latitude.
Weather and Science Day with 9News, Steve Spangler Science and the Colorado Rockies Reaches All Time High
Our annual Weather and Science Day reached a new height this year with the launch of a weather balloon during the event. The weather balloon was launched with help from The Edge of Space. During it’s flight, it reached the edge of space at a height of 93,000 feet. That’s higher than Mount Everest and higher than what a military jet can fly (50,000 feet). The balloon drifted northeast and landed hours later near Synder, Colorado.
Beaker “piloted” the weather balloon along with three flags from 9News, the Colorado Rockies and Steve Spangler Science. The balloon also had three cameras onboard that recorded hours of flight footage. You can see Beaker at the edge of the heavens and his violent fall back to earth after the balloon ruptured.
The underlying lesson was to work with The Edge of Space people who love flying balloons as hobbyists. Their dedication and passion to ballooning was inspiring.
Launching a balloon from Coors
Join us for the third annual Weather & Science Day on Wednesday, May 2nd at 10:30 AM, before the Rockies game against the Dodgers at Coors Field.
Weather and Science Day 2009 resulted in a Guinness World Record for the Largest Physics Lesson. Weather and Science Day 2011 resulted in the stands exploding with a choreographed song played by everyone in unison and a giant cannon shooting clouds across the outfield. What will happen at this year’s Weather and Science Day? You’d better sign up to make sure you don’t miss the fun.
Students and their teachers can purchase special rate tickets for Weather and Science Day and stay for the game. The science demonstrations and weather lessons will be along the first base line. Students will then move to their assigned seats for the game.
Weather and Science Day is for school groups, but any science enthusiast who has a ticket to the game can come early and join in the excitement for learning.
Schedule May 2, 2012 – Coors Field
9:30 a.m. Gates A,
After returning from taping the Ellen DeGeneres Show in Burbank, California, Steve brought some sounds of science to the Dom and Jane Charity Marathon for the Food Bank of the Rockies Friday. Steve shared a few of his favorite science sounds including the Musical Saw, Screaming Cup, Thunder Tube and water whistle, on the radio show.
Click here to listen to his appearance on the Dom and Jane Show and check out the pictures below.
You can still donate to support the Food Bank of the Rockies. Visit their website to donate today.
Join us for a Twitter party on Tuesday, October 25th from 7-8pm MST to celebrate the launch of Steve’s new book, Fire Bubbles and Exploding Toothpaste. We will be giving away copies of the book during the party.
Please RSVP below in the comments then join the conversation on Tuesday for your chance to win an autographed copy.
We will discuss Halloween science, kitchen science and extracurricular science with our panelists @chaotic_barb, @rajean, @maryheston, @sanborncamps, @ljcooney3, @CarissaRogers. Follow our hashtags #firebubbles and #SSSci and use our TweetGrid.
**We unfortunately are unable to ship books to addresses outside of the 48 contiguous United States due to high shipping costs. We love all of our Hawaiian, Alaskan, Canadian and international customers. We apologize, but if you are outside of the 48 states and win a book, we will happily send you a book if you cover shipping charges.
If you thought Steve Spangler’s book Naked Eggs and Flying Potatoes pushed the limits of your inner mad scientist, this second volume of 25 new, extraordinary home experiments is guaranteed to knock your socks off! Seriously… your socks are going to