Plastic Balloon

In the spring time, when the ozone hole develops in the northern hemisphere we launch plastic balloons when NOAA requests them. These balloons are cylindrical and which reach higher altitudes (25-40 km) and perform better in colder temperatures than the rubber balloons we normally launch. 

It takes everyone on station to launch one of these balloons. I'm at the bottom of the balloon, carrying the sonde box at the top of the hill.

It was so clear and bright out we were able to see it floating up for about a half hour!