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Simulated mission This is a labeled demonstration. It is not a live balloon flight and is not counted in production statistics.

Mission complete · Physical science

WF-0138

FIT Academy · Apple Valley, Minnesota

Mission Control Finder page Payload kit

TEAM Charter School — Stockton, California Kidinnu Academy — El Cajon, California Alta Vista Innovation High School — San Bernardino, California Richmond Charter Academy — Richmond, California The School of Arts and Enterprise — Pomona, California Desert Sage School — Tucson, Arizona Desert Star Academy — Fort Mohave, Arizona Avondale Elementary (Imagine School) — Avondale, Arizona FIT Academy — Apple Valley, Minnesota DuBois Integrity Academy — Riverdale, Georgia Sandhills Theatre Arts Renaissance School (STARS) — Vass, North Carolina Wayne Preparatory Academy — Goldsboro, North Carolina South Scioto Academy — Columbus, Ohio KCC Riverview South — Riverview, Florida Palmer Ranch (Imagine School) — Sarasota, Florida

Altitude —
Speed —
Distance —
Time aloft —
Temperature —
Landing —
Open mission
LaunchFebruary 8, 2026
Altitude0 ft
Speed47 mph
Distance151 miles
Time aloft3h 21m
Temperature18°F
Illustrative student-built payload box with tracker and parachute against the sky
Illustrative — not a live flight.

The human message

Launched on a cold Minnesota morning. We wanted to see how far curiosity can travel.

Mission timeline

  1. Payload armed

    Tracker tested. Recovery card attached.

  2. Launch
  3. 10,000 feet
  4. Entered stratosphere
  5. Maximum altitude

    101,440 ft

  6. Descent detected
  7. Landing detected
  8. Payload found
  9. Returned

Connections

LANDMARK

Crossed open prairie south of the Twin Cities.

Minnesota River prairie

We predicted vs. what happened

We predicted

Southwest · 160 miles

Max altitude 95,000 ft

Duration 3h 0m

Minnesota

Southwest Minnesota

Physical science

What actually happened

Distance error 22 miles

Altitude error 6,440 ft

Duration error 21m

Near Worthington, Minnesota

Illustrative recovered payload and parachute in open country
Illustrative — not a live flight.

Recovery

Public landing: Near Worthington, Minnesota

Finder

Chris — Open field near Worthington, Minnesota

Saw the parachute from the county road.

Staff coordinated a manual handoff. The payload is home.

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