 GREENCASTLE, Ind., Nov. 5, 2007 - "A single balloon floated high above DePauw's Julian Science and Mathematics Center at 10:03 a.m. on Saturday morning," begins an article in today's Greencastle Banner Graphic detailing a weekend experiment conducted at the University. "A few hours later, it crash-landed nine miles north of New Castle, Ind., after reaching the near space height of 96,700 feet, bringing the scientific community one step closer to demonstrating a new emergency communication system. DePauw was one of seven midwestern universities to take part in Saturday's synchronized launch, forming the High Altitude Launch Opportunity Network or HALO, designed to create the first ever high-speed balloon-to-balloon network 20 miles above the Earth." (photo, l-r: Howard Brooks supervised as DePauw juniors Dan Bennett and Brian Spector coordinated Saturday's HALO launch)
The story by Josie Bodie continues, "While in flight, the radio signal from DePauw's balloon could be heard as far north as Ontario, Canada, and as far west as Wisconsin, said physics and astronomy Professor Howard L. Brooks. According to Brooks, one balloon is capable of providing  uninterrupted cell phone coverage to all of Indiana. 'It's the perfect example of what could be used in a post-Katrina situation,' Brooks said."
The newspaper adds, "This was the 18th balloon launch for DePauw's Balloon Assisted Stratospheric Experiments, or BASE program, whose inaugural launch was in November 2006. According to Brooks, private industry is also working hard to perfecting the technology and some hope a prototype balloon network will soar high above the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Funding and equipment for the HALO launch was provided by StratoStar through the Indiana Space Grant Consortium."
Read the complete article at the Banner Graphic's Web site and learn more about Saturday's launch by clicking here. |
