X-Wing in Space – Image Credit Essex Space Agency

On Sunday, May 17 the BBC TV technology show Click broadcast a report on Essex Star Wars enthusiasts who flew an X-Wing in near-space.

The balloon was launched on April 21, 2015 and reached an altitude of 36,190m before bursting and returning to Earth, landing in a field between Bedford and Northampton. Telemetry and Slow Scan Digital Video (SSDV) were transmitted on 434.510 MHz.

Phil St Pier of Romford and Matt Kingsnorth of Brentwood took around six months to complete the project at a cost of about £1,200.

Watch The Full X-wing flight 1 of 9 – Launch

Watch the BBC report with video shot at the “Essex Space Agency” Brentwood branch at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-32384570

Read the Romford Recorder story at http://www.romfordrecorder.co.uk/home/romford_star_wars_fans_send_model_plane_towards_space_1_4068369

Project Helium Tears
http://projecthet.tumblr.com/
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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAOju7S4k4zHW2_16EiyLVA/

High Altitude Balloons https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/balloons/