Stephen Brown is an assistant headteacher at Bourne Grammar School, and a passionate advocate of computer science and engineering in education. After coming to Cambridge in August to attend the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s Skycademy course, he returned to Bourne eager to put a balloon into near space but committed to the idea that his students would plan the mission, build the payload, and launch the balloon independently.
He assembled four teams of students: the computer science team would set up and program the Pi’s software, the engineers would put together the payload, the launch team would send the balloon to the stratosphere, and the chase team would track and retrieve the payload. He gave the students his documentation on how to run a successful launch, then let them get on with it.
“My favourite part was working on this project as a team with other students. It was good fun solving the problems and challenges we faced whilst working on it,” says Andrew, who led the computer science team.
The students had two weeks to organise themselves, with a three-day launch window provided by the Civil Aviation Authority as a hard deadline that they had to meet.
The weather on launch day couldn’t have been better, as the entirety of the school’s Year 8 students assembled on the field, ready to watch the launch.
“Two weeks of lunchtime programming had gone into this and everyone was really nervous, as multiple things could have gone wrong,” says Fabio, who watched his carefully assembled payload being tied to the helium balloon.
Fellow pupil Sohail was in charge of the launch preparation itself. He ensured that the flow of helium into the balloon remained steady, as he nervously tried to keep the fragile latex from coming too close to anything sharp, and carefully gauged when the required lift volume had been achieved.
With the balloon inflated, Patrick took control, ensuring the payload was securely attached, and carefully cable-tied the neck of the balloon to ensure it remained inflated.
Lastly, it was up to Alex to launch the balloon. He stood before the expectant audience, letting the string feed through his fingers as the balloon ascended, and then finally releasing the payload and watching as all their hard work rapidly drifted upwards, now at the mercy of the atmosphere.
The chase team quickly jumped into the back of the school minibus and, with satnavs and radios blaring, they barked instructions to their driver, Systems & Control teacher Kevan Wackett. The original projections had the balloon scheduled to return to Earth somewhere near RAF Lakenheath, and there were visions of RAF intercept jets being launched to bring down the UFO. Fortunately, the course updated and the chase team headed for Welney, with the assistance of some expertly executed U-turns from Mr Wackett.
The payload came down in a field between two rivers, which required a two-mile cross-country hike to retrieve it. Half the students on the chase team had come prepared for a muddy trek, although two of the sixth-formers had missed the previous day’s lunchtime meeting and looked more suited to a business interview than a brisk walk in the country.
The payload was retrieved without a hitch, safe and sound in its polystyrene box, having endured a 26km ride into the upper atmosphere, and being watched over by a herd of curious cows.
