A10 · SPECIALIST · 4-HOUR WORKSHOP
Space missions 1: a high-altitude balloon payload
Teachers can specify a balloon payload: mass budget, sensors, power, tracking, and recovery plan.
Grade 9–12 science, geography, technology, space clubs.
Foundation Certificate. A6 recommended.
4 hours, plus a school application task
IN THE WORKSHOP
What you will explore.
- 0:00–0:40
Mission story: question first, balloon second.
- 0:40–1:40
Mass, power, cold, and why GNSS and barometer disagree in useful ways.
- 1:40–3:00
Build a bench payload. Log pressure, temperature and a fake ascent.
- 3:00–4:00
Permissions, airspace, recovery, and a school go/no-go list.
BUILD IT. USE IT.
Take the learning into class.
You leave with
- A payload spec and a bench log.
- A go/no-go list.
Your school application
Present the spec to the school. File the decision, even if the answer is ‘not this year’.
Allow about two hours outside the facilitated session.
Curriculum connection
NS / Physical Sciences atmosphere; Geography climate and mapping; Technology systems.
YOUR EQUIPMENT
Tools for this module.
Flight core, barometer, GNSS (INA), temperature, LoRa if tracking, battery core, payload box.
Confirm the equipment and software arrangements when you enquire. Specialist field activities require appropriate supervision and permissions.
CPTD endorsement and points are not yet confirmed. Read the CPTD information
Back to specialist strandsYOUR NEXT STEP
Bring practical STEM into your classroom.
Tell us your teaching phase, subject and the experience you would like to build. We’ll help you choose a starting point and confirm dates, venue, kit arrangements and fees.
Enquire about the Academy