EOSS-369 NDIA Flight - Recap

One 2000g non-exempt balloon was  launched on Sunday, March 23, 2025 from Deer Trail, Colorado, one day after launch was postponed due to weather (cloud cover greater than fifty percent and ground winds 10 mph or greater).  Sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), the balloon carried experiments representing efforts of approximately 2,200 students from around the United States. These experiments were collected into three payloads which included flight video recording,  GPS position,  and flight data (including APRS, ADS-B).

Launched just after sunrise, the flight reached an altitude of almost 95000  feet before balloon burst and parachute deployment, descent, and touchdown in Lincoln County, about 13 miles south of Flagler. A short section of snow and deep mud along the dirt road near the landing made driving to the recovery site challenging. Wind gusts dragged the parachute and flight string along the rough field almost a quarter-mile mile before being intercepted on-the-run by Jeff N6BA, assisted by Mike W9CN. Kudos to Jeff and Mike for their extraordinary efforts to secure successful recovery of the payloads!

Norm Black KEØPAM, representing NDIA, provided this link to a video of the flight: EOSS-369

 EOSS members submit mileage reimbursement request here,