Photos: Students take unique view of planet for $150
The balloon pops
This picture was taken just after the weather balloon popped at an altitude of roughly 28,350 metres, producing a shower of rubber debris.
Bigger balloons can reach altitudes as high as 40 kilometres, but rockets must be used to go any higher.
Eventually, the team hopes to see how high they can lift a payload on the cheap, using a balloon to carry a rocket to launch altitude.
(Image: 1337arts.com/Oliver Yeh/Justin Lee)
Earlier this year, a team of
Spanish students launched a balloon into space for €1000
. Now a team from MIT has accomplished a similar feat for $150