Thu Jan 26, 2012, 08:11 PM
muriel_volestrangler (57,611 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore
That's one step for a small man, one giant leap for Lego-kindLast edited Thu Jan 26, 2012, 08:13 PM USA/ET - Edit history (1) Toronto teens send Lego man on an a balloon odyssey 24 kilometres high
Two weeks ago, Ho and Muhammad launched a homemade balloon carrying a Lego passenger and four cameras. It fell back down to Earth 97 minutes later with astonishing footage from an estimated 24 kilometres above sea level, three times the typical cruising altitude of a commercial aircraft. Their jerry-rigged contraption recorded the Lego man’s journey from a soccer pitch in Newmarket to the stratosphere — high enough to see their two-inch astronaut floating above curvature of our planet, clutching a Canadian flag with the blackness of space behind him. ... The pair discovered a website that calculates a weather balloon’s estimated landing spot based on input launch coordinates, prevailing winds, and balloon specs — different weather balloons are designed to burst at different altitudes. The site kept spitting out Rochester, N.Y., as their balloon’s final landing spot. Muhammad and Ho didn’t like their chances with U.S. Homeland Security. But one Saturday morning, Ho tried again, and saw the balloon would land near Peterborough. By 2:30 p.m., he and Muhammad were standing in a Newmarket soccer pitch. ... http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1120808--toronto-teens-send-lego-man-on-a-balloon-odyssey-24-kilometres-high Video at link. ![]()
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7 replies, 561 views
| Author | Time | Post | |
| muriel_volestrangler | Jan 26 | OP | |
| Joe Shlabotnik | Jan 26 | #1 | |
| muriel_volestrangler | Jan 26 | #2 | |
| Neoma | Jan 26 | #3 | |
| muriel_volestrangler | Jan 26 | #4 | |
| emmadoggy | Jan 27 | #5 | |
| MADem | Jan 27 | #6 | |
| JDPriestly | Jan 27 | #7 |
Response to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)
Thu Jan 26, 2012, 08:53 PM
Joe Shlabotnik (603 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore
1. thought provoking line: "Muhammad and Ho didn’t like their chances with U.S. Homeland Security." n/t
Response to Joe Shlabotnik (Reply #1)
Thu Jan 26, 2012, 09:01 PM
muriel_volestrangler (57,611 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore
2. "Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay"
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I imagine an immigrant from Pakistan a few years ago (does he have Canadian citizenship yet?) would want to think twice about crossing the US border with a bunch of cameras taped together and parachutes ...
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Response to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)
Thu Jan 26, 2012, 09:15 PM
Neoma (6,596 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore
3. What video?
Response to Neoma (Reply #3)
Thu Jan 26, 2012, 09:17 PM
muriel_volestrangler (57,611 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore
4. Top of the article
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with a 'play' arrow on it. An interview, and some footage from the balloon/parachute.
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Response to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)
Fri Jan 27, 2012, 04:34 PM
emmadoggy (1,581 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore
5. Very cool! nt
Response to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)
Fri Jan 27, 2012, 05:09 PM
MADem (68,191 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore
6. What great kids--their parents and grandparents must be so proud! nt
Response to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)
Fri Jan 27, 2012, 05:36 PM
JDPriestly (29,624 posts) Profile Journal Send DU Mail Ignore
7. Lego rules!
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My favorite toy of all toys combined with the wonders of the internet. What an amazing world.
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