Item 1: The Telegraph reports on a group of teenagers who used a <$100 camera and a balloon to take some great pictures of space:
Gerard Marull, 18, said: “We were overwhelmed at our results, especially the photographs, to send our handmade craft to the edge of space is incredible.”
Completing their landmark experiment on February, the Meteotek team [of IES La Bisbal school in Catalonia, Spain] had to account for a wide variety of variables and rely on a lot of luck.
“The balloon we chose was inflated with helium to just over two metres and weighed just 1500 grams,” said Gerard. “It was able to carry the sensor equipment and digital Nikon camera which weighed 1.5kg.
…
“We took readings as the balloon rose and mapped its progress using Google Earth and the onboard radio receiver,” said Gerard.
“At over 100,000ft the balloon lost its inflation and the equipment was returned to the earth.
“We travelled 10km to find the sensors and photographic card, which was still emitting its signal, even though it had been exposed to the most extreme conditions.”
Item 2: Comics writer Warren Ellis has a friend on the International Space Station. That friend sent him photos of what the space shuttle launch looks like from up there. Not much to say other than “cool.”
Go click on the links to look at them pictures.