AHAB was “A High Altitude Balloon” project posted on Make Magazine plus original PDF posting. Some novice balloonists with tons of electronic skill devised a payload including cameras, cell phones and GPS equipment to take photos from near space. The GPS data transmitted back indicated they achieved 109,000ft which is just amazing. Photos from near space would have been spectacular. Unfortunately they never found the payload. There GPS transmitter gave out during the descent around 60,000ft. They searched but with no luck.

The call went out for others to help in the search. I was going to be in the area on a vacation to the Pacific Coast a few months later so I got the new projected targets, my GPS and a team to help search. (See our results posted at Make Magazine). The following larger photos are boring snapshots of us at the target areas. Sorry to say we too did not find the payload.

The balloon

 

The payload

Graphic of the GPS data from launch to cutaway

Original search area that Bre searched by air

Photo from the original search area

The new projected targets I searched

Veronica Harrison and James Ziska at Point B

 

Point A – Just a dirt field

Todd Harrison at Point C

Todd and Veronica Harrison at lost dozer

Veronica Harrison at Point C

Veronica Harrison near point D

Veronica Harrison at point D

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Veronica Harrison on seeder near point D

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Lava rock at Emrys Hall’s projection, not trees!

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Emrys Hall’s projection point

Todd Harrison found a ballon at Emrys Hall’s projection

I found the balloon! NOT!

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Emrys Hall’s projection area, those are lava rocks not trees!

Lava rocks