Just in time, a science honor's rhyme!

Hey everyone, I just wanted to share a poem that I wrote during Mayterm about science honors:

Science Honors

By: Olivia Morse

 

We were eleven from the start,

We each learned to give our part.

To the sky, land, and sea,

We looked for where climate change might be.

 

Al Gore, Muller, and many more,

We learned what scientists thought was in store.

We studied albedo, currents, and radiation,

Then electronics, programming, and circuits took our concentration.

 

We would send up a balloon into the stratosphere,

Equipped with sensors to report the data that was there.

We were split up into teams of three,

The Flying Monkeys, Team Sparkles, and Team Maple Leaf we would be.

 

Long nights were spent programming and soldering boards,

Finishing proposals and straightening out cords.

We went on road trips to see how far our radio connection could go,

And watched parachutes fall to the ground below.

 

As launch day approached we worked through the night,

Before long our balloons were in flight.

Up, up, and away they flew through the blue sky.

We watched the GPS to see how far they would fly.

 

On the back roads of Pennsylvania we followed the GPS,

Putting the minivan and cars to the test.

Some groups found their balloons high in a tree,

Others still wonder where their balloon could be.

 

Although we were left tired from launch week,

We looked back on the knowledge that were able to seek,

Learning about Fresnel zones from our tech guy Jay,

Gaining programming experience, and how to solder the correct way.

 

Nothing can compare to the friendships and connections that brought us together,

The memories of late nights in Paine, smoothie runs, and movie watching will be with us forever.

Up Up and Away!

Team Maple Leaf packages their balloon. 

Where to begin? It seems like the past week was one giant work day with short naps and snacks in between. Should I go back to the 5 minutes before launch when the SD card was recording meaningless symbols and the program was still not complete? Maybe 2 hours before when the proper antenna cables had not arrived? How about Thursday at around 1 am when Maple Leaf's circuit was being resoldered because the SD card had to be close to the arduino? Or 11pm when Team Sparkles' radios wouldn't connect again? In actuality, we should go all the way back to the first day of class. It has been 9 full months of preparation. Countless hours of hard work and dedication. Little sleep and 1 all nighter added to the adventure. The morning of launch we ran on adrenaline finishing the final preparations. Between last minute programming, final circuit tests, and outside set-up, it sometimes felt like it would never come together. We just had to remain calm, and as suggested by the teaching assistants, never stop thinking. If we started rushing or freaking out we would make careless mistakes.

Team Maple Leaf cheers as their balloon soars away. 

Finally at 11:00, the professors said we had to go with what we had. It was time to launch. After rushing out to the quad each group gave a small description of their project and what exactly they were studying. We started to fill the first balloon with helium and attach the package to the parachute. Maple Leaf was the first one to let go and watch their balloon fly away into the atmosphere (watch the video here!). Cheers of excitement and relief filled the air as it quickly drifted off. It had worked. Data was streaming through the radios and the launch had been successful!

Team Sparkles fills their balloon.

Next it was Sparkles turn. They had radio connection but their data was coming through as weird symbols. Due to radio troubles the night before they had decided to change their transmission rate.
Turns out they had a program with the incorrect baud rate. Andrew ran to re-upload a new program and then their balloon was on its way. Lastly, the Flying Monkeys were having trouble getting a radio connection. After much fiddling they heard the words "You have a connection!".With that they began to package up for send off. (watch the video here!)Sarah quickly realized that the nichrome wire cutdown system was already heating up. Luckily they were able to tie another piece of paracord to secure it.

Flying Monkeys examine their circuit. 

Three balloons successfully in the air collecting data was an incredible accomplishment. As they sailed away we knew that no matter what happened it would be OK. There was nothing else we could do. It didn't matter if nothing worked, or even if radio connection cut out. We have learned an incredible amount over the past 9 months.

Flying Monkeys watch their balloon disappear. 

At the beginning of the year, we would not have been able to write complex programs or build circuits. Though frustrating at times, we developed problem solving skills by trying various combinations until we knew what the problem was. When everyone is irritable from very little sleep, grace and positive attitudes are the only way to remain calm. Our Mayterm class is coming to a close but the discussion is not over. Since launch there has been nothing but talk of "this would have been so much easier" "they should do this next year" and "why didn't we think of that?!". Though no longer part of the program we will always be thinking about our project and a better way to do it. Who knows, maybe we'll even get to launch another balloon someday.
--Kayla