I've been listening to the designer of the balloon who took the "Galaxy S II" into space

"Galaxy S II" promotion event "Smartphone and video camera mounted on observation balloons" and live broadcasting of how to display tweets sent from the general people to the universe "SPACE BALLOON PROJECT"But"Agency for Cultural Affairs Media Arts Festival"Received a grand prize in the entertainment division of. Since it is said that John Powell, CEO of JP AEROSPACE, who was in charge of the production of the balloon, has come to Japan, he asked directly to himself how he used the mechanism to realize the launch to space.

This person is John Powell, who is representative of "JP Aerospace".


The balloon is about 2 adults in size and weighs about 10 kilos.



The blue feather is a stabilizer, it seems to be a part to prevent the main body from turning when it rises or falls.


A blue box installed at the place where the balloon and the main body are connected is a separating device.


A parachute for loosing the speed at the time of falling is stored in the basket like this.


A hole is opened at the bottom of the basket containing the parachute, and when it falls to the altitude at which the atmosphere becomes dark it suddenly receives air resistance and the umbrella is automatically opened at the proper timing.


The astronaut doll installed is what was also used for actual flight.


Looking at it from behind, it is like this.



It is a USB cable connected to "Galaxy S II". In order to charge the battery until just before the flight, it seems that it is put out in such a place where you can connect to Sug.


The black parts in front of the astronaut doll are cameras.


It is connected to the battery installed behind.


When exposed to sunlight at high altitude where the atmosphere becomes thin, it is difficult to dissipate heat and it gets hot and it may burn other parts, so it seems that parts for heat insulation are laid down.


The junction and the switch box are full of handmade feeling quite a bit.




Contact information is written in case of missing after falling.


There was a panel on which the autographs of the people involved in the production were written.


John Powell who eagerly explained the mechanism before the balloon which was actually launched into space.


Although it went to space, surprisingly it is a balloon packed full of handmade feelings, but if you think carefully, Space Shuttle and rocket are the ultimate one handmade item. In that sense as well, you can feel the romance of the universe in front of you by going to "Media Arts Festival of Agency for Cultural Affairs,

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