PI IN THE SKY GENERATIVE STEAM LEARNING THROUGH HIGH ALTITUDE BALLOONING: WHY EVERYONE SHOULD BE DOING THIS.

PRESENTATION OVERVIEW Introduction of myself and my school How we Got Started With Helium Ballooning : NLRA Takes On the Sky and Initially Wins How Failure Led To Success Accolades from Ballooning A Basic How To Guide Why Everyone Should Be Doing This Questions/Comments

INTRODUCTION Jeremy “Pete” Peterson Lead Teacher of Northern Lakes Regional Academy in Rice Lake, WI Globally Minded NBCT AYA Science International Schools/TGC Spent many years as IB chemistry/physics teacher Transitioned to Charter/PBL environment four years ago 15 months ago, I knew absolutely nothing helium ballooning I still am not an expert at any of this

Opened in 2012 as Instrumentality of Rice Lake Area School District Around th Grade students STEAM Focus/MakerSpace with Fab Lab Students Engage in Interdisciplinary Teacher Led Projects in Mornings Some Online Learning Components Afternoons are Open Studio Time For Student Generated Driving Questions

THE BEGINNING: SENIOR CAPSTONE Obsessed with space Found Sponsorship Research May 2015 Launch WPR Interview/Spectrum West Arduino Workshop with Vernier Toshiba Grant

PI IN THE SKY SEMINAR First 3 Weeks was Teacher-Led Focused on Deriving Gas Law Equations/Learning About Atmospheric Layers Introduction to Arduino with Vernier Sensors and Raspberry Pi Designing Experiments Engineering Payload to take Measurements of Needed Data Broke Into Pairs to Focus on Different Launch Aspects

SEPTEMBER 2015 LAUNCH Worked well but struggled with the Arduino and Black Box Launched from Northern Minnesota Retrieval was Tumultuous Rice Lake Cable Commission Submitted Video to Vernier Engineering Competition/Notable Entry Teachers for Global Classroom’s Photo Contest Winners Led to Rice Lake Cable Commission Sponsorship of Next Launch

THE UNEXPECTED EXPLOSION Windy Day Many Spectators Trying to Reach 130,000 ft with a 2000 g balloon Pressure to Launch Like Getting Punched in the Gut Embarrassed Balloon Twisted Creating Micro pocket of Air Balloon Twisted Creating Micro pocket of Air

REGROUP AND REDESIGN Discussed other filling options Designed original part for filling our balloons with SolidWorks Programmed Arduino As Sound Locater 3 rd Launch Success We Must Let our Students FAIL In Order To Truly Learn

ACCOLADES/FUTURE WPR Interview Vernier 2016 Notable Entry UW-Stout Case Study WTEA Students Presenters TGC Best Depiction of “Global Education” Published Articles in Manufacturing Today and Transportation Today Rice Lake Cable Commission Ballooning Documentary in the Works Many Area Business Have Requested to Sponsor Future Launches Inspired Younger Students/AP Physics Students

APRIL LAUNCH/EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN WORKSHOP Younger Students Wanted to Get Involved Presented Results Virtually Yesterday at Pre-conference

FAA & FCC REGULATIONS Cell Phones are not permitted to track high-altitude weather balloons in flight. Payloads cannot exceed a package weight/size ratio of three ounces per square inch. No payload package can exceed 6 lb in weight. Entire weight of all payloads cannot exceed 12 lb in total weight (Excludes weight of balloon). No rope or cable should be used which requires more than 50lb of force to separate payload packages from balloon.

FAA & FCC REGULATIONS (CONTINUED) No one may launch a high-altitude weather balloon which creates a hazard to other people and property. (i.e. Incorrect parachute, faulty rigging, inappropriate launch location) No one may use a high-altitude weather balloon to drop objects (i.e. gliders and projectiles). As long as above and inflated balloon diameter is smaller than 6 ft in diameter then no FAA approval is needed Recommended to call local airport if close by

EAGLE FLIGHT COMPUTER Purchased from High Altitude Science Military grade/works at low temperature Lithium Ion Batteries Ease of use No on/off switch Measures Temperature, Air pressure, Altitude, Latitude and Longitude Automatically takes data every 6 seconds Saves to micro SD card Other Options on This

SPOT TRACKER A GPS system with an online subscription Indicator Lights Helps locate the balloon Has to be moving to track points Only works at low altitudes

THE RASPBERRY PI CAMERA Computer the Size of a Credit Card Costs Less than a Credit Card Late Fee Programmed to take a picture every 30 seconds for four hours Can be Used as Data Logger/Flight Computer

PREPARING THE PAYLOAD BOX Spot Tracker Go Pro Picture Flight Computer Raspberry Pi Hand Warmer The complete line of the box, parachute, and the payload Velcro Strips to keep thing secure inside

USING THE HAB HUB BURST CALCULATOR Decide what you want in your payload Determine payload mass (including parachute) Pick a balloon size (600g, 1200g, 1500 g, 2000 g) Target ascent rate = 5.5 m/s Prevention of remote drifting Hab Hub

FLIGHT PREDICTIONS Online Predictor Based Out of UK Hooked Into World Meteorological Networks 6 Hour Time Difference Between UK and Midwest Now Had Been Accurate to 2 minutes and 2 km in past launches HabHub.org

FILLING THE BALLOON/LAUNCHING Hose Connected To Valve Tying off the balloon Letting Go Latex Gloves Tarp Pre-flight checklists Specific Assigned Jobs

WHERE NEXT Ham Radio at NLRA May Launches will utilize Radio Transmitter NLRA Students teach RLHS AP Physics Students Possible Seminar for Other Educators

WHY EVERYONE SHOULD BE DOING THIS Captures all or any aspect of curriculum Encourages collaboration/teamwork Students can be easily specialized to a part of a given launch Authentic FAILs Tracking and Retrieval is Fun Engaging to the community

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS Jeremy “Pete” Peterson Northern Lakes Regional Academy 33 Ann St. Rice Lake, WI