WMS teacher launches space experiment

On January 19th, Mr. Bergen, WMS's very own Tech Ed teacher, in partnership with his friend Rhett Youngberg, launched the first test of a breakthrough project called Earth 360. The goal of the Earth 360 project, as stated on its home page, almostspace.com, is to "re-invent the way we look at our planet by sending [5] cameras [in]to near space to create the first interactive 360-degree panoramic view of the earth."

Their plan is to attach six cameras to a helium-filled weather balloon and send the cameras 100,000 feet into space in order to collect images they will eventually "stitch together" to create a panoramic view of Earth. The first test, a "proof-of-concept flight," was launched from the Alan B. Sullivan Field, near the Roscoe Diner off of NY Route
17. The balloon landed a few hours later near Southington, CT.

Once the project is complete (many balloon flights later), Mr. Bergen and Mr. Youngberg plan to create and post a documentary about the creation, development, and implementation process on YouTube with the hopes of inspiring others to take on similar projects.

More information can be found on Mr. Bergen's website,  almostrocketscience.com;  or the Earth 360 Kickstarter page at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2113709224/earth-360.

Photo #1: One of the images captured by the cameras   Photo #2: Mr. Bergen launching the balloon