Flight Schedule

  • OLHZN-22 :: UmbraQuest
    April 8, 2024
    The 22nd high-altitude weather balloon flight launched into the path of totality during the 2024 total solar eclipse.  This flight was originally expected to be in the spring months of 2020 but was delayed due to the worldwide coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.  This was further delayed and was finally flown in 2024 to coincide with the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse.  This flight captured stunning footage of the eclipse and improved upon our new video transmission system to receive live in-flight video from the payload while it was flying! Read More

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  • OLHZN-21 :: Vegas Golden Knights
    September 23, 2019
    This flight was a collaboration project with the NHL’s Vegas Golden Knights in an effort to set a new VGK Worldwide record for the highest ice hockey puck drop. and a celebration of the opening night of their third hockey season in Las Vegas! Read More

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  • OLHZN-20 :: JustDustin
    September 5, 2019
    This flight was a YouTube collaboration with popular YouTuber, JustDustin!  The flight launched on September 5, 2019 carrying Dustin’s YouTube Silver Play Button to an altitude of 111,015 FT.  Read More

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  • OLHZN-19 :: Polaris
    August 2, 2019
    This flight tested new directional antennas for our new video transmission system to receive better live in-flight video from the payload while it was flying! Read More

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  • OLHZN-18 :: Watcher
    July 25, 2019
    This flight debuted our new video transmission system to receive live in-flight video from the payload while it was flying! Read More

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  • OLHZN-17 :: Searing
    June 24, 2019
    This flight debuted our new recovery cut-down system built via a LoRa radio to help aid in quickly recovering payloads that may become entangled in tall obstructions (i.e. trees) during landing.  Read More

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  • OLHZN-16 :: Dawning
    September 5, 2018
    This flight which featured 3 onboard cameras, our large tracking computer and our micro-payload for a beautiful sunrise flight that launched during the early morning darkness! Read More

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  • OLHZN-15 :: Space Lobster
    August 6, 2018
    This flight featured 3 onboard cameras, our large tracking computer, our micro-payload and our brave, legendary and lovable crustacean, the Space Lobster! Read More

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  • OLHZN-14 ::  Solaris
    June 18, 2018
    This flight featured 2 onboard cameras, our large tracking computer and our new rebuilt micro-payload to resolve damage incurred on the landing of OLHZN-12.  This flight also featured a commercial payload customer from The Solarcan as well as  some student BalloonSat experiments onboard. Read More

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  • OLHZN-13 :: Trek
    May 28, 2018
    This flight was our fastest turnaround time between flights and featured 3 onboard cameras, our large tracking computer and our new micro-payload with some minor modifications to the antenna structure.  The micro payload failed prior to launch due to damage incurred during the OLHZN-12 landing.  This was the first solid performance of our new landing prediction software. Read More

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  • OLHZN-12 :: Flexor
    May 26, 2018
    This flight featured 3 onboard cameras, our large tracking computer and our new micro-payload with some minor modifications to the antenna structure.  It was was the debut of our new landing prediction software system. Read More

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  • OLHZN-11 :: Mist
    April 29, 2018
    This flight featured 2 onboard side cameras, our large tracking computer, our new micro-payload along with some additional sensors that were added in the winter offseason. This was the first perfect performance of our large flight computer. Read More

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  • OLHZN-10 :: Shrimpy
    March 21, 2018
    This flight featured our experimental micro-payload and operated with only radio tracking equipment (no cameras). The payload operated flawless up until balloon burst, at which point it stopped communicating due to the antenna breaking/detaching under the cold temperatures. Read More

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  • OLHZN-9 :: Helios
    August 21, 2017 – Solar Eclipse Day!
    This flight was timed to perfectly coincide with the solar eclipse that occurred across the United States on August 21st, 2017. The flight obtained amazing imagery of the Earth during the eclipse, but the flight tracking systems failed. The backup tracking system saved us once again and we recovered the payload in the swamp after achieving 112,506 ft. in altitude – our highest altitude yet. Read More

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  • OLHZN-8 :: Rectify
    August 2, 2017
    This flight is the closest we’ve come to perfection so far. The flight computer and cameras operated flawlessly until the last 30 seconds of the flight when the flight computer failed. We were able to literally catch the payload as it landed as we were waiting at the landing site – an incredible feat! Read More

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  • OLHZN-7 :: Duplicity 
    July 17, 2017
    This flight again focused on capturing the balloon burst with an upwards facing camera. We use our regular HD 1080p cameras and partially captured the burst due to a flight computer error that caused continual restarts. The primary tracking system failed, but the flight was recovered after achieving 106,427 ft. in altitude. Read More

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  • OLHZN-6 :: Shredder
    May 20, 2017
    This flight was the first to feature a third upwards facing camera to capture the balloon burst. We attempted to use a 4K Camera to capture this footage in 120 frames per second, however, the camera’s batteries expired 25 minutes before the balloon burst so we were unable to obtain that footage. Read More

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  • OLHZN-5 :: Continuity
    March 26, 2017
    This flight implemented a number of changes to improve our flight tracking computer systems that was overhauled during the winter offseason. The tracking systems operated well and this was the first flight to break 100,000 ft. This flight experienced an extremely close Airbus flyby and the payload landed on some high voltage power lines which presented a difficult recovery. Our most eventful flight to-date. Read More

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  • OLHZN-4 :: Butchy
    August 20, 2016
    This flight was the first to feature our OLHZN Astronaut, Butchy, a replica NHL Referee! This flight was a tribute to our friend Oliver “Butch” Mousseaux who died tragically from an on-ice officiating incident in March 2016. The flight reached 95,100 ft. and was recovered successfully after a 12 hour search due to our camera interference issue. Read More

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  • OLHZN-3 :: Viewfinder
    May 28, 2016
    This was the first flight to implement our Lightdow LD4000 HD Action Cameras and focused primarily on obtaining high quality photos and video of the entire flight. These new cameras introduced a troubling electromagnetic interference issue with our GPS Systems that we were unable to pinpoint until after OLHZN-4 which experienced the same issue.  Read More

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  • OLHZN-2 :: Redemption
    May 7, 2016
    Flight #2 was our redemption flight to test our flight computer systems again. This flight traveled to 90,141 ft. and was successfully recovered after suffering only minor in-flight issues with our flight computer. Read More

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  • OLHZN-1 :: The First Flight
    April 23, 2016
    The first flight was an introductory into high altitude weather balloon flights and our first test of our onboard flight computers. Sadly, this flight was lost and remains undiscovered due to the batteries being expended much earlier than anticipated. Read More

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Kids learning about our weather balloon launch operations!
Kids enjoying our weather balloon launch operations!
About High Altitude Weather Balloons
OLHZN Student High Altitude Weather Balloon Launches