Kharagpur: Vidyasagar University has partnered with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to launch a helium balloon fitted with GPS and radio-sound devices to measure different climatic parameters.
This mission is aimed at getting more clear information about local and regional air temperature, humidity, air pressure, air speed and direction.
In addition, the helium balloon will do experimental atmospheric research, get clear atmospheric ideas and verify information gathered via satellites.
The project was led by the Centre for Environmental Studies, Vidyasagar University, Director Prof Jatishankar Bandopadhyay. National Remote Sensing Service Centre of ISRO provided support with coordination from space scientist Dr Harif Baba Saheb.
The ballon was released from the Vidyasagar University rooftop yesterday and it went up to 27.831 km. It gathered all research atmospheric data till 3.53.03 pm.
Then it began descent and landed at Gurabadha in East Singbhum, Jharkhand at 3:53:40 pm nearly 74.86 km from Vidyasagar University.
The GPS data of each second of the flight was tracked by Vidyasagar University and ISRO scientists.
Both the district administration and the nearby Kalaikunda Air Force Station permitted the balloon launch.
The University plans to make this a monthly exercise whereby they can send these balloons with GPS and radio sound devices. This could help with prior knowledge about rainfall, lightning and cyclones, among others.
