Our second launch with the Treasure Valley Near Space Program.  We launched two balloons simultaneously from Bruneau Dunes.

We began our day at 3 a.m.  For this launch we had purchased some of our own equipment and had stayed up late the night before getting it ready.  So, with only four hours of sleep, we were ready and set to go!  We met up with the rest of the crew on the way out of town and we all convoyed together to Bruneau.  For this chase we had voice capability in our vehicle (new radio) and it helped make the long trip into the early morning darkness easier. 

We arrived in Bruneau to a perfect morning - great skies, comfortable temps, and right in the middle of a great moth invasion. Launch preparations went smoothly.  I actually was able to help hold one of the filled balloons for a time. I think everyone should have this experience just to get an appreciation for not only the size of the balloons, but also the force they pull upwards with. Amazing stuff.

     
Filling the first balloon                                                                    Now for balloon #2

   
Preparing the petri dishes for the microbe experiment

   
The capsules for balloon #1            The capsule for balloon #2

       
Stringing the parachute                                                       More preparations...

    
Waiting for the capsules...

       
Almost ready...                                                       Connecting everything...

       
Ready for the lanyards                 Stringing everything together       It works!

        
Getting ready...               Releasing the lanyards       Up, up and away! 

        
We launched two balloons at precisely the same moment.  Again, very amazing. They danced around each other in the sky for quite a while, at times seemingly connected to each other (which caused a little nervousness on the ground). All was well, and we were able to drive to an area in Bliss where we observed both balloons as they burst.  Who would believe that you could see such an event so high in the sky? The balloon bursts, followed by the puffs of powder, were incredible to see.

The hunt was on!  People racing to vehicles, tires spinning, dust a-flying. Our tracking reports indicated easy recoveries, with both balloons landing near (but importantly not directly on) decent roadways. A perfect ending to another perfect launch.

Driving to the first recovery site showed us what a sense of humor Mother Nature has. It didn't take us long to realize that although the capsules were only 2 miles away from us, that is a very long distance when deep canyons separate you from the recovery site. We split our teams into 2 groups of six, with the first group staying to recover the first capsule and the second driving on to the other capsules a few miles up the road.  

My son and I were in the first team and we elected to hike to the recovery site. After all, the canyons weren't THAT steep and 2 miles isn't very far. Along the way we saw some incredible sights - traces of wildlife, birds, incredible rock formations, flowers and vegetation, and lots of bright sunshine.

After several hours of really tough hiking, my son and I returned to the base vehicles and the other two continued on to the recovery site. By now the canyons were looking much steeper, the rocks much bigger, and the formations not nearly as exciting.  We encountered two snakes hiding in the shadows, an interesting green striped one and a rattler who was not impressed with our intrusion in his territory. 

Back at the base, we discovered that the capsule had been recovered (yea!) but that the two remaining men had run out of water and were in need of assistance. We took over the base operations while two pairs of fresh legs carried water back down into the canyons to the waiting men.  It took well over 8 hours before all crew members were able to return safely to the vehicles with their prize.  This recovery taught us many lessons, including the necessity for planning for the unknown, properly dodging lightening bolts and hail stones (late in the afternoon), proper snake jumping, and dealing with radio blackouts.  I, for one, will remember to bring lots of water and snacks, sunscreen, batteries, and a good, long stick.  

We ended our long day with a group dinner in Gooding and a long midnight drive back to Boise.  All in all, this was a fantastic day with lots of amazing sights, interesting challenges, and wonderful camaraderie with the TVNSP team.  I'm looking forward now to sleeping in in the morning and to washing the thick layer of Idaho mud from my car.  :)

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