University of Saskatchewan students are part of an international team that has launched a balloon 30 kilometres into near-space.
University of Saskatchewan students are part of an international team that has launched a balloon 30 kilometres into near-space as the culmination of a special training program that will help them become the next generation of space technology and engineering experts.
The launch took place on July 24 at the Cudworth Airport outside of Saskatoon where the team released a balloon, the length of a long pickup truck, carrying equipment similar to that used in cube satellites—mini devices for space research.
The goal of the mission is to measure cosmic rays, particles that come from outside the solar system, and understand how they interact with Earth’s atmosphere.
“A better understanding of cosmic rays is helpful to foresee how these particles may affect satellite communications,” said USask physics PhD student Kimberlee Dube.
The radiation of cosmic rays may also affect astronauts’ DNA causing cancer because, unlike on Earth, there is no “shield” from air particles, so studying cosmic rays can lead to building better protection materials for astronauts.
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Image via University of Saskatchewan.
