Return to the Edge of Space

Kopernik students have designed, built, launched, and recovered 7 weather balloons that reached altitudes of over 100,000 feet (nearly 20 miles). In the videos they recovered, they saw the sky turn black and water boil at temperatures below freezing in the near vacuum conditions of maximum altitude. This summer, students will have the opportunity to build on the experience of previous camp years and add new experiments using Raspberry Pi computers and GoPro video cameras. The payload is planned to include a slow scan TV and a fast scan TV experiment to transmit pictures back to Earth during the flight. Students will track the balloon’s flight path in real-time, using a beacon equipped with a GPS receiver.

KOSC Summer Camp Registration Basics:

• Camps have a maximum enrollment and many fill quickly each year. Register early and avoid the waiting list.
• Early Bird Tuition cost is good through May 31. Add $25 when registering after May 31.
• Early drop off (8 am) and late pick up (4 pm) are available for a $15/day. This can be added during initial registration or closer to the camp's start date.
• Refunds are available (less a $15 administration fee) if a student withdraws 14 days prior to the start of camp. In case of cancellation due to insufficient enrollment, participants will be notified one week in advance and will receive a full refund.
• At checkout, there is an option to pay by check, if preferred. When sending a check, please make it out to Kopernik Observatory & Science Center and include a note specifying where the funds should be applied (especially for those registering for multiple camps). Checks must be sent to Kopernik at the time of registration and pay for the camp in full. Please contact Kopernik directly with questions or concerns.
• A welcome email will be sent approximately one week before the first day of camp providing specifics on the class and a letter from the teacher.