Monday, May 20, 2013
CALIFORNIA'S OLDEST NEWSPAPER - EST. 1851
Volume 162 · Issue 60 | 99¢

Scientists launch weather balloons here

GOOGLE'S Matt Dunlap, left, of Mountain View fills a weather balloon with helium in preparation for its flight into the upper atmosphere Saturday at Union Mine High School in El Dorado. Democrat photo by Pat Dollins

GOOGLE'S Matt Dunlap, left, of Mountain View fills a weather balloon with helium in preparation for its flight into the upper atmosphere Saturday at Union Mine High School in El Dorado. Democrat photo by Pat Dollins

A team  of Google, NASA, and San Jose State University engineers made an early morning trek from the Bay Area to a baseball field at Union Mine High School in El Dorado last Saturday morning to launch a couple of  helium-filled weather balloons into the upper reaches of the stratosphere.
The balloons carry cameras, radio and GPS tracking instruments to altitudes well above 90,000 feet, over 18.5 miles. As the balloons rise, they expand to the point where they burst and eventually fall back to earth. A small parachute is used to bring the  cameras and electronics back as  gently as possible.
The instruments carried by the balloons launched Saturday transmitted a radio frequency that allowed ground crews to track the flight path and ultimately recover the payload at the end of the day, including photos taken during the flight.
The first balloon launched reached an altitude of 96,000 feet. The second balloon reached 98,000 feet. Both payloads were recovered several hours later in farmers’ fields a few miles south of  Turlock.

LEAVE A COMMENT

Discussion | No comments

The Mountain Democrat does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy

.

News

County honors kayaker’s life-saving efforts

By Chris Daley | From Page: A1, 2 Comments | Gallery

 
Grizzly Flat does ‘table-top’ fire drill

Press Release | From Page: B1

Paper delivered on Memorial Day; offices closed

By Wendy Schultz | From Page: B1

 
Heard over the back fence: Dog talent show Sunday

By Bob Billingsley | From Page: B1

EID Water Quality reports online

By Mary Lynn Carlton | From Page: B1

 
Supes show military appreciation

By Chris Daley | From Page: A1

No winner in property dispute

By Dawn Hodson | From Page: A1, 3 Comments | Gallery

 
 
Wildfire Awareness Week event includes Smokey hot air balloon

By Teresa Mizuhara | From Page: B3 | Gallery

 
Kendall trial pushed back in favor of in limine motions

By Cole Mayer | From Page: A3 | Gallery

‘Tree killer’ caught on tape

By Cole Mayer | From Page: A3, 4 Comments | Gallery

 
.

Opinion

Massive Mello-Roos planned

By Mountain Democrat | From Page: A4, 8 Comments

 
Belltower: Unique twins, unique churches

By Michael Raffety | From Page: A4

 
.

Letters

Thanking the Pines

By Letters to the Editor | From Page: A5

 
Disrespecting traditions

By Letters to the Editor | From Page: A5, 3 Comments

‘Go Blue or Go Home’

By Letters to the Editor | From Page: A5, 2 Comments

 
Mr. Nutting, really?

By Letters to the Editor | From Page: A5, 2 Comments

Willing to destroy America

By Letters to the Editor | From Page: A5, 22 Comments

 
.

Sports

Schedule: May 20-25, 2013

By Jerry Heinzer | From Page: A6

 
Cougars win D-IV title

By Democrat Staff | From Page: A6 | Gallery

Under the Scoreboard: May 19, 2013

By Democrat Staff | From Page: A6

 
Lady Bruins fall short of D-II section title

By Mike Bush | From Page: A6 | Gallery

Sipes sets school record; Trageser D-I record

By Democrat Staff | From Page: A6 | Gallery

 
Golobic wins thriller

By Bill Sullivan | From Page: A6 | Gallery

.

Prospecting

Rummage sale to help finance camp

By Calvary Chapel Placerville | From Page: B2

 
New spring fashions on parade

By Mike Bush | From Page: B2, 1 Comment | Gallery

As we were: Politics, sports and more

By Ken Deibert | From Page: B2

 
Car and motorcycle show to raise funds

By Democrat Calendar | From Page: B10

MORE annual meeting

By Mother Lode Rehabilitation Enterprises Inc. | From Page: B10

 
.

Essentials

Crime Log: April 23-24

By Cole Mayer | From Page: A2

 
Lake levels 4-16-13

By Michael Raffety | From Page: A2

.

Obituaries

Delta Mae Petersen

By Contributor | From Page: A2

 
.

Real Estate

.

Comics

Sudoku

By Contributor | From Page: A8

 
Rubes

By Contributor | From Page: A8

New York Times Crossword

By Contributor | From Page: A8

 
TV Listings

By Contributor | From Page: A8

Speed Bump

By Contributor | From Page: A8

 
American Profile Crossword

By Contributor | From Page: A8

Tundra

By Contributor | From Page: A8

 
Horoscope, Tuesday, May 21, 2013

By Contributor | From Page: A8

Horoscope, Monday, May 20, 2013

By Contributor | From Page: A8

 
Shoe

By Contributor | From Page: A8