Flying high: U of S students successfully launch high altitude balloon into near space
A group of students from the University of Saskatchewan were given three weeks to plan and conduct the launch of a high altitude balloon into near space.
“It was an awesome experience,” Pouya Pourkarim told CTV News. “I've been talking about it with all my friends and families.”
The team was part of a special space technology program that the University of Saskatchewan participants in called the NSERC CREATE International Space Mission Training Program.
Its goal is to boost Canada’s space efforts to develop the “next-generation of space technology and personnel,” according to the program’s website.
Pourkarim said the balloon reached altitudes of 33 kilometres and was in the air for about four hours.
Erik Stacey, who was also part of the team, said things didn’t go exactly to plan.
“The flight time was about an hour longer than we expected, but it landed relatively close to where we expected it to,” he said, adding it landed in a field near a lake.
The experience helped both Pourkarim and Stacey expand their skills in different ways.
“I didn't have too much experience with the engineering side of things,” Pourkarim explained. “You need a lot of engineering in these in these type of missions. And I got to see especially what the software engineering part is doing and how significantly important and also (how) difficult it is to get this done.”
Stacey said his studies are mostly independent and it was a good experience working on a team.
“The focus of the CREATE program is really on learning how to collaborate in a professional environment. I had a personal project that I've been working on that I was immediately able to apply that experience to,” he said.
“There's immediate tangible benefits of what I learned.”
Correction
The story has been updated to reflect the balloon reached 33 kilometres in altitude. The original story said it reached 22 kilometres.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.