On September 2, 2009, a group of MIT students launched a digital camera 17.5 miles high to take photographs of the Earth. They were able to achieve this with only a $150 budget and off-the-shelf items. Using a balloon, helium, a Canon A470 digital camera, 4 Lithium AA batteries, GPS receiver, and tracking software, these students were able to catch photos of the curvature of the Earth as well as the deep black of space. These students were not afraid to think outside the box.
Through these efforts, these students challenged what people knew about space. Most people assume that this kind of thing is reserved for people at NASA who spend billions of dollars. However, these students were not only able to dream up this project, but were able to execute it for a low cost. This project was not about an assignment at school or extra credit. Instead, these students came up with an idea, researched the topic, and performed the stunt successfully on their own time.
Technology allows people to accomplish what was previously believed to be impossible. No one believed these students would successfully launch this balloon and retrieve pictures of the Earth. By educating our young students about various technologies and establishing the groundwork for future projects, students may truly explore, discover, and imagine what was previously unimaginable.
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