Graupel-2 High Altitude Balloon

The launch and recovery of Graupel-2: A high altitude balloon project launched on September 25th, 2021 from the Central Cascades in Washington. An altitude of 109,917 feet was obtained, with the entire flight recorded, and recovery near Moses Lake. This flight entailed a 1200 gram latex balloon filled with helium, carrying a 1600 gram payload consisting of a GoPro Hero 9 Black, a SPOT Trace, and a flight computer with an APRS radio tracker. We launched from a rest area near on the eastern side of Snoqualmie, near Cle Elum. The balloon ascended for 2.5 hours to an altitude of 109,917 feet (33502 m) before landing 67 miles (107 km) away, only a few dozen yards from Moses Lake. During ascent, we captured some great shots of the Cascades all the way from Mt Hood to Shuksan - 275 miles away - as well as almost all of Eastern Washington, including the Columbia and Snake Rivers. More details of the flight will be available at: