A seventh-grade student from Antioch, California, captured a moment of curiosity that turned a simple classroom idea into a high‑flying science demonstration. The project followed a bold plan to send a small payload, including Hello Kitty, into the edge of space to observe how altitude affects air pressure and temperature, while documenting every moment with sensors and cameras. The venture was designed to be hands‑on, turning classroom theory into a tangible experiment that could inspire peers and future scientists alike. Lauren Rojas led the effort, assembling the compact silver craft, a weather balloon, and the data‑gathering gear that would tell the story from lift‑off to landing. The mission emphasized safe handling and meticulous data collection, a hallmark of a thoughtful STEM exploration in a real-world setting. [Source: Local News]
To explore how altitude affects air pressure and temperature, the 13‑year‑old built a compact silver spacecraft tethered to a weather balloon. The rig carried an altimeter, a thermometer, a GPS beacon, and several GoPro cameras to document the entire ascent from multiple angles. The design stressed portability and resilience, aimed at surviving the chill of upper‑atmosphere conditions while transmitting data back to the classroom for analysis. The effort was supervised as a concrete example of how young students can engage with atmospheric science in a meaningful, memorable way. [Source: Local News]
During the ascent, the craft climbed through the layers of the atmosphere and reached an altitude of 28,537 meters, roughly 93,600 feet above Earth. The onboard instruments logged temperature drops and pressure changes as the air thinned and the environment grew colder. The team monitored the flight remotely, watching the data stream come in while the GoPros captured the widening horizon and the fragile beauty of the planet below. This dramatic journey demonstrated how atmospheric science comes to life when theory meets a real balloon experiment. [Source: Local News]
As the balloon ascended, the gas inside expanded with the decreasing external pressure, swelling the balloon to about 53 times its original size before the outer shell could no longer contain the volume and ruptured. The payload, including Hello Kitty, began its descent, tracing a downward arc back toward Earth while the GPS and other sensors continued to relay position information for recovery teams. The moment highlighted the balance between risk and reward in field‑based science projects and showcased the dynamics of high‑altitude flight in action. [Source: Local News]
Recovery crews later located the payload about 76 kilometers from the launch site, high up in a tree where it had come to rest after the drift. Hello Kitty emerged from the adventure intact, a proof point for careful planning, robust equipment, and careful handling of delicate payloads during extreme conditions. The successful retrieval underscored the potential of student-led experiments to spark curiosity while keeping safety at the forefront. [Source: Local News]
Lauren’s video of Hello Kitty’s journey was posted to YouTube toward the end of January and has drawn almost 500 thousand views. The footage, captured from the craft and from ground observers, offers a rare, up‑close view of lift‑off, flight, and return, turning a classroom project into a widely shared learning moment. The clip has become a popular resource for teachers and students seeking real‑world examples of atmospheric science and STEM exploration. [Source: Local News]
What do readers think of Lauren’s project? Would you ever attempt a similar space balloon experiment and send a beloved toy into the sky? Share your thoughts on Facebook and Twitter about this kind of hands‑on science and the questions it raises about safety, data collection, and the thrill of discovery. [Source: Local News]