“Taking their iPhone Where No iDevice Has Gone Before, a father and son [drove from Brooklyn to] Newburgh, NY recently took a weekend science project to new heights,” Adam Rosen reports for Cult of Mac.
“Luke and Max Geissbuhler attached an HD Video Camera, iPhone and some styrofoam packing to a weather balloon, then launched their homemade satellite on a journey that lasted 72 minutes and climbed over 100,000 feet into the atmosphere,” Rosen reports. “The weather balloon burst after reaching about 19 miles high, then plummeted back to Earth by parachute and landed in a tree. The iPhone’s on-board GPS helped located the equipment once it landed, undamaged and only 30 miles away from the launch site!”
More info in the full article here.
I am sorry if my being facetious and cynical was not obvious. I know we did things as kids that today would almost certainly land us in big conflict with regulatory issues.
if you’re going to do this, just be sure to verify with the manufacturer that your selected GPS receiver will work over 60,000 feet. Many don’t.
if you’re going to do this, just be sure to verify with the manufacturer that your selected GPS receiver will work over 60,000 feet. Many don’t.
The big story is that the iPhone wasn’t damaged. The glass wasn’t even scratched. Glassgate anyone?
The big story is that the iPhone wasn’t damaged. The glass wasn’t even scratched. Glassgate anyone?
Totally awesome! Better than any space project Jodie Foster did with her dad in Carl Sagan’s Contact!
Totally awesome! Better than any space project Jodie Foster did with her dad in Carl Sagan’s Contact!
@NHL
I am with you, man. I remember when my father helped me in doing some projects and how skillful he was with wood. Also, he taught me to love fishing and some camping. Time well spent, really.
Good for this father.
@NHL
I am with you, man. I remember when my father helped me in doing some projects and how skillful he was with wood. Also, he taught me to love fishing and some camping. Time well spent, really.
Good for this father.
It did not reach space, however. The beginning of outer space is defined as reaching beyond the Kármán-line above 100 km (~61 miles or about 330,000 feet). [In the US, the line is drawn at 50 miles, or about 80 km, or 264,000 feet]. They were a bit short on that.
Still cool, though. Just disappointed they did not use the iPhone’s camera.
It did not reach space, however. The beginning of outer space is defined as reaching beyond the Kármán-line above 100 km (~61 miles or about 330,000 feet). [In the US, the line is drawn at 50 miles, or about 80 km, or 264,000 feet]. They were a bit short on that.
Still cool, though. Just disappointed they did not use the iPhone’s camera.
All
If possible, let your fathers know of your love and appreciation.
All
If possible, let your fathers know of your love and appreciation.
Amazin1:
After posting my unpleasant response, I re-read your comment and realised what your point actually was. You are most likely correct, in that it is becoming increasingly difficult to do many things today, in the post- 11 September world.
What I find amazing is that practically nobody even notices how entire world now has no problem with taking shoes off before getting onto an airplane. You’d think we have all converted to islam, and airplanes are our mosques (and I don’t mean to offend anyone here who may be Muslim; I’m just attempting a harmless joke).
Amazin1:
After posting my unpleasant response, I re-read your comment and realised what your point actually was. You are most likely correct, in that it is becoming increasingly difficult to do many things today, in the post- 11 September world.
What I find amazing is that practically nobody even notices how entire world now has no problem with taking shoes off before getting onto an airplane. You’d think we have all converted to islam, and airplanes are our mosques (and I don’t mean to offend anyone here who may be Muslim; I’m just attempting a harmless joke).
Just FYI – The iPhone’s maximum operating altitude is 10,000 feet (3000 m)
Not sure it that voids the warrantee, but it looks like it kept ticking.
(yes, I know the iPhone doesn’t actually tick)
Just FYI – The iPhone’s maximum operating altitude is 10,000 feet (3000 m)
Not sure it that voids the warrantee, but it looks like it kept ticking.
(yes, I know the iPhone doesn’t actually tick)
This video really made my day. Fond memories of my father doing projects with me. Can you imagine the stories these two will tell when that kid gets older? Great video. In fact, I’ll go as far to say that this is probably the best video of 2010 for YouTube. Warms my heart.
This video really made my day. Fond memories of my father doing projects with me. Can you imagine the stories these two will tell when that kid gets older? Great video. In fact, I’ll go as far to say that this is probably the best video of 2010 for YouTube. Warms my heart.
Wow, that was awesome.
Completely agree with RickW above. Best use of tech available to the common man, from the hardware all the way to youtube.
Wow, that was awesome.
Completely agree with RickW above. Best use of tech available to the common man, from the hardware all the way to youtube.
Oh here’s the original video as posted on vimeo by Luke Geissbühler. Seems the reposts on youtube are not by the Geissbühlers, so head over to the original post to give them a internet hit boost.
Homemade Spacecraft
http://www
“Visit brooklynspaceprogram.org for all the info.” – L. Geissbühler
Oh here’s the original video as posted on vimeo by Luke Geissbühler. Seems the reposts on youtube are not by the Geissbühlers, so head over to the original post to give them a internet hit boost.
Homemade Spacecraft
http://www
“Visit brooklynspaceprogram.org for all the info.” – L. Geissbühler
I think the next experiment that might be even more dramatic, though I don’t know for certain it would work, would be to run this same experiment in northern Alaska during the Northern Lights and see what the magnetic interference looks like from that height.
I think the next experiment that might be even more dramatic, though I don’t know for certain it would work, would be to run this same experiment in northern Alaska during the Northern Lights and see what the magnetic interference looks like from that height.