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The Vado HD At The Edge Of Space June 26, 2009

Posted by Vadographer in Cool Stuff.
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This is a clip of the Vado HD video camera at an altitude between 80,000 ft and 100,000 ft. The camera is attached to the payload of a research weather balloon. The balloon was launched from the lawn of the University of Houston and traveled approximately 20 miles East to Baytown TX before the balloon burst and the payload fell to Earth by parachute.

The Vado HD survived ambient air pressures as low as 1/100th of an atmosphere, temperatures as low as -60C, and even survived being run over by an industrial lawn mower 1 week after falling to Earth. Incidentally we never would have found the payload if it hadn’t been run over by this lawn mower. All of the data was intact on the camera and though a lawn mower blade destroyed the LCD screen, the Vado HD still takes great video!

Comments»

1. nad - July 7, 2009

This looks awesome! Is this for real?

2. Ed - July 29, 2009

It looked real enough for me :) Incredible!

3. Vadographer - September 2, 2009

It is indeed!

4. jamiec - January 25, 2010

Hi,
Did you insulate the camera anyway or was it totally exposed to the elements?