Science experiment makes local landing

Frank Denzler
Staff Writer

May 09, 2008 09:26 am

— Wednesday afternoon, as Rushville resident Ryan Fields was driving on U.S. 52 east of town, a science project from a state university made an unplanned landing on the hood of his vehicle.
“It was definitely one of the wildest things I have ever seen. I saw something pink hit the front of the truck and I looked in the rearview mirror, because usually things go underneath the vehicle. I noticed I had a parachute draped over the back of the truck. My dog was going nuts in the front seat. I stopped, picked it up, and saw DePauw University on the box so I called them up,” Fields said.
What Fields did not know at the time was that by a chance of fate and wind currents he had became an unwitting participant in a scientific test that began at an intermediate school in Greencastle earlier in the morning, when DePauw Professor of Physics and Astronomy Dr. Howard L. Brooks and others released the Balloon Assisted Stratospheric Experiment. The project was launched from Tzouanakis Intermediate School a few hours earlier and was being tracked by Brooks and an assistant.
Aided by a GPS device enclosed in the experiment, the trackers on the ground were within a half-mile of the location on U.S. 52 west of CR 300S when the package touched down.
Brooks indicated that he had a visual on the descending experiment as it was about a half-mile from the ground when he and his assistant lost sight of it.
“A short time later, the college called and said ‘We found your experiment, a Ryan Fields has it.’ They gave me Ryan’s phone number and here we are,” a smiling Brooks said as re reclaimed his prized test.
According to Brooks, the Physics and Astronomy program of which BASE is a major component uses helium weather balloons as a means to carry scientific experiments into the stratosphere.
“The experiments are designed by students from DePauw and various schools throughout western Indiana,” Brooks said.
On a typical flight, nearly 200 cubic feet of helium is used to elevate the balloon and experiment to altitudes of 80,000 to 100,000 feet.
A typical flight last between 90 minutes and five hours before pressure causes the balloon to burst, resulting in the experiment returning to earth. During the time aloft an in-flight camera films the flight while communication devices enclosed keep those on the ground aware of its location.
“After the balloon burst the system tumbles toward the ground for several minutes before the parachute encounters enough air to become effective. During the tumbling process the packages can attain speeds in excess of 100 mph, but impact speeds are generally less than 20 mph,” the professor said.
According to the Brooks, as a result of wind speed and direction scientist are able to predict the flight path — although not the landing point of such tests.
Although startled, Fields was uninjured and his vehicle did not sustain damage. A short time after meeting Brooks and law enforcement personnel he was once again on his way.
For photos of the flight of the experiment, Brooks will post pictures on the university’s Web site at www.depauw.edu/acad/physics/base in the coming days.

Frank Denzler can be contacted at (765) 932-2222 ext. 106 or via e-mail at frank.denzler@rushvillerepublican.com. To add a comment to this story visit our Web site at www.rushvillerepublican.com.

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