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
Pedestrian, baby injured after stroller struck and dragged by vehicle in Squamish, B.C.
Police say a baby and a pedestrian suffered non-life-threatening injuries after a vehicle struck a baby stroller and dragged it for two blocks before stopping in Squamish, B.C.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
BREAKING Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko won't play in Game 2
The Vancouver Canucks will be without all-star goalie Thatcher Demko when they face the Nashville Predators in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.