How Does It Work?

It takes a team of high-tech tools working together to track a balloon traveling miles above the Earth. Here is the "magic" behind the mission:

1. The "Brain" (GPS Satellite & Downsignal)

High above our balloon, a constellation of GPS Satellites constantly beams "downsignals" to Earth. Our balloon carries a tiny GPS Receiver that listens to these signals to calculate exactly where it is and how high it’s flying.

2. The "Voice" (Lightweight Transmitter)

Once the balloon knows its location, it needs to tell us! We use a lightweight electronics transmitter—an APRS (Automatic Packet Reporting System) tracker. This device acts like a high-flying radio station, converting the GPS data into digital "beeps" or packets of information.

3. The "Bridge" (VHF Position Datalink)

The transmitter sends these digital packets over a VHF (Very High Frequency) radio link. Because VHF signals travel in a "line-of-sight," the balloon’s high altitude allows its signal to reach radio towers hundreds of miles away.

4. The "Ear" (The Ground Station)

On the ground, specialized Ground Stations (run by "Ham" radio volunteers) use antennas to catch the balloon's VHF signal. These stations decode the radio "beeps" back into data and instantly upload them to the internet so you can see the balloon's path on the map!