MECSAT

Medgar Evers College, City University of New York

Balloon Science Education and Research Center

Students Aaron Jones (EE, CCNY), Carolyn Douglas (CS ) and Rita Barley (CS) checking the weather at BSERC.

Balloon launches over New York City would pose a problem so we pack our students and our gear and head to the Adirondacks. We have set up a launch base in Paradox, New York on 400 acres of private property coincidentally owned by a Brooklyn College graduate. Paradox is quite different from NYC with a year-round population of just 30 or so people, no rush-hours and winters with temperatures dipping to 25 below 0.

 

At the launch base, we have a fully equipped work center for year-round student and faculty workshops, ozonesonde and BalloonSAT flight preparation and any other needed work prior to flights in either Paradox or northern Vermont. Our base is equipped with a mobile network capability and Internet access via satellite. The base also has an 8-in Meade telescope for star parties, a Davis Vantage Pro Plus weather station and is rapidly becoming an upstate science center for our students. Our urban students also take advantage of the Adirondacks location with hikes and nature walks.

Kathie Bernard, a CS student testing communications at BSERC.

Cabin housing BSERC