Up Up Up

The National Weather Service hosted an open house today, during which they released a weather balloon. Before the release, they explained a bit about the process of collecting weather data with the balloons. Our local weather station releases two balloons every day, at a cost of about $500 a pop.

Here's a shot of the little box that contains the equipment. It looks suspiciously like a Chinese takeout box.


There was even a guy on a real red phone, which I think was some kind of direct line to the airport tower, so they could get last-minute clearance to launch.


Here's the set up...


...and the take off.

I can still see it!