The Pella Amateur Radio Club is trying again to fly a balloon around the world, this time with the help of Pella Christian High School students.

This time, they flew for the physics class taught by Mr. Beekhuizen. The balloon contains a GPS receiver and amateur radio transmitter, which enables the students to track the balloon anywhere it goes on earth. The launch and flight was “perfect” on Monday, according to Jim Emmert with the group.

“Since the payload is powered by solar panels, it powered down as it was crossing Huntsville, Illinois,” he says.

As of Tuesday morning, Emmert said the balloon was hovering somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, and if it avoids stormy waters, could be over Europe sometime later this week. The Pella Amateur Radio Club held a similar activity for the Jefferson Intermediate 5th grade science class last week and its peak, that balloon traveled at 35,000 feet at 175 mph. Emmert predicts it ended up in the Atlantic Ocean as well, and likely encountered a storm.

Those who would like to follow the project online can go to the following link:
https://aprs.fi/#!call=a%2FWB0URW-3&timerange=86400&tail=86400