We have launched a number of ozone sounding balloons. In the following sequence, we prepare to launch a balloon, and then follow it up into the atmosphere. The balloon is around 2 meters in diameter and is filled with Helium gas. The balloon train includes the balloon, a parachute (bright orange), a "dropper reel" that lowers the payload below the balloon after launch, and the payload (a small styrofoam cooler filled with the ozone measuring electrochemical cell.
The balloons travel to around 35 km (where the atmospheric pressure is around 0.5% of the surface pressure before popping and returning to the ground. The payload is not recovered, but if you find one, you will get a small reward. Because the payload typically lands 50 miles from the launch point, there is a lot of territory to cover to find one. Currently, at least 50 payloads are out there and only one has been recovered.
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