SUU Capstone Project Reaches 39,000 Feet with Pico Balloon Launch
Published: April 11, 2025 | Author: Taylor Johnson | Read Time: 2 minutes
Mechanical engineering students at Southern Utah University have successfully launched and tracked multiple pico helium balloons during the 2025 spring semester. This project will serve as a foundation for future high-altitude balloon research and engineering applications at the University.
Students Taylor Davis, Raine Pratt, and Sadie Schenk were able to accurately predict parameters such as temperature, pressure, altitude, ascending velocity, floating altitude, and buoyancy force. Their successful launch and accurate predictions showcased the knowledge they’ve acquired in aerodynamics and atmospheric physics. This project is a prime example of how SUU strives to help students apply their education to real-world research.
The project was done under the guidance of Mechanical Engineering Professor Ali Siahpush and with the tracking support of Tony Messina, a retired ham radio operator from Las Vegas.
A pico balloon is a small, lightweight, high-altitude balloon designed for long-duration flights and atmospheric data collection. Made of ultra-thin materials, these balloons reach impressive altitudes and travel long distances. This capstone project aimed to analyze and predict the balloon's static and dynamic behavior throughout its ascent using one-dimensional (1D) theoretical models.
To track the location of the launched balloon, the team used Weak Signal Propagation Reporter (WSPR) tracking methods. Messina and his team built and designed the WSPR tracker used in this project. Thanks to this technology, the students could confirm that their pico helium balloon reached a maximum altitude of 39,000 feet, which closely matched their predictions.
This project not only serves as a foundation for future high-altitude balloon research and engineering applications at SUU but also equips these students with the skills they need to apply mathematical modeling and engineering principles in the industry. These experiences will help these students as they move forward into successful careers, making meaningful contributions to the engineering industry.
The Mechanical Engineering program at SUU is ABET-accredited and prepares students to innovate and solve real-world problems. With an emphasis on applied learning, students gain experience in areas such as aerospace, automotive, and environmental engineering.Tags: Student College of Engineering and Computational Sciences Academic
Contact Information:
Brooke Heath
435-586-5400
brookeheath1@suu.edu