Gorgeous Amateur Footage Of HD Camera's Ascent To Near-Space

Th3D0n · 25 Sep 2009 at 16:40

Come for the gorgeous footage of space, stay to watch a camera survive a 100,000 foot fall.
Before you watch the most entertaining 10 minutes of Youtube footage you'll see this week, you need a bit of backstory. Impressed by a group of MIT students who attached a digital camera to a balloon and scored some gorgeous images of space for under $150, a group of Canadian radio enthusiasts thought they could do one better
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lie0diOhfdg

Even if you have no interest in the stunning footage from the very edge of our atmosphere -- it's very serene up there -- be sure to watch every from 6:25 on. That's the point where the balloon bursts and viewers get to experience 107,145 feet of free fall.

I wasnt the one who made this but thought some peaple on here mite like it
original post - http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.145712

ScarySquirrel · 25 Sep 2009 at 16:54

Before I watch it. How do they get the footage back?

Th3D0n · 25 Sep 2009 at 16:57

ScarySquirrel said:
Before I watch it. How do they get the footage back?

after the camcorder hits the floor lol

Russinating · 25 Sep 2009 at 17:01

Hmm, watching that is one quick way to get motion sickness/a headache

. Not impressed with the video to be honest, can barely see anything for all the shaking and swirling.

ScarySquirrel · 25 Sep 2009 at 17:03

Th3D0n said:
after the camcorder hits the floor lol

Just watched it, I didn't realise it was going to land safely

Awesome video though. Thanks for posting.

How far away did it land from the original start point do you think?

EDIT: Never mind, found out via their website. 89 miles.

Firegod · 25 Sep 2009 at 17:16

Mint!

Cavallino · 25 Sep 2009 at 17:32

Awesome post. Throughly enjoyed it. Even though some parts were spinning and got a dizzy, but the concept behind this endeavour... must have been exciting (and terrifying probably!) for the guys when they saw the camcorder approaching the ground.

sid · 25 Sep 2009 at 17:34

Is it that hard to attach the camera so it always points downwards instead of spinning around. Perhaps one with a wideangle lens as well.

It seems like a lot of effort and I was disappointed with the video.

nutsnut · 25 Sep 2009 at 17:39

Would have been excellent if they had made the cargo carrying the camera more Missile/streamline shape for a smoother return to earth, shots in space were cool though,

Marine Iguana · 25 Sep 2009 at 17:56

Awesome vid although i now feel like i have been on a fairground ride

Loved the view from edge of space.

Th3D0n · 25 Sep 2009 at 18:18

Marine Iguana said:
Awesome vid although i now feel like i have been on a fairground ride

Loved the view from edge of space.

It is realy cool

sid · 25 Sep 2009 at 19:51

nutsnut said:
Would have been excellent if they had made the cargo carrying the camera more Missile/streamline shape for a smoother return to earth, shots in space were cool though,

Yeah, making it bottom heavy + fins would be simple ways to do that

muttclugg · 25 Sep 2009 at 20:15

sid said:
Yeah, making it bottom heavy + fins would be simple ways to do that

And what about when it hit's the terra firma at 800mph and smashes into little bits. THEN how would you get the footage back?

I thought it was a great video!

Russinating · 25 Sep 2009 at 20:48

muttclugg said:
And what about when it hit's the terra firma at 800mph and smashes into little bits. THEN how would you get the footage back?

Crumple nose to protect the inner camera :cool:

FreeStream · 26 Sep 2009 at 02:33

Pointless exercise.

Not one "amazing" shot in there at all IMO. Spinning around and such like.

Next time I think they should have it pointing down plus something to make sure it doesn't flap about.

Taking a SLR or something to take nice, sharp, crisp images would have been much more impressive.

Th3D0n · 26 Sep 2009 at 06:18

Concorde Rules said:
Taking a SLR or something to take nice, sharp, crisp images would have been much more impressive.

cost to much since there was a good chance it wasnt going to survive

Tripnologist · 26 Sep 2009 at 09:33

Yeah, shame on these amateur people for not spending huge amounts on a camera they didn't know they would get back. Next time, they should buy a $10,000 camera and they should spend $20,000 on creating a better camera housing.

Raikiri · 26 Sep 2009 at 10:04

Th3D0n said:
cost to much since there was a good chance it wasnt going to survive

The camcorder costs £700...

Impressive though.

reflux · 26 Sep 2009 at 10:47

Bit too much bashing in this thread tbh. Like to see some of you lot attempt the same thing.

Russinating · 26 Sep 2009 at 11:19

reflux said:
Bit too much bashing in this thread tbh. Like to see some of you lot attempt the same thing.

Just because something's hard to do doesn't make the outcome good :rolleyes:

. Plus they're just copying some other students who did the same thing a few weeks ago so it's not even worth a congrats.

I've seen the Earth from space before and I've seen the Earth from a high altitude before, and to be honest it's almost a case of once you've seen it, you've seen it. Or at least I could just watch the same video over and over again. This blurry, swirling and shaky footage shows me nothing new.