Watch the complete adventure
Watch the complete adventure
Watch the full experience from start to finish. The adventure begins at 3:20am in North London at St Mary's Islington CE Primary School. Where and when will the adventure end and will it go to plan?
Chapter 1 - Is It Safe To Launch?
Chapter 1 - Is It Safe To Launch?
Dan from Ohbot Ltd explains the considerations involved when deciding where to launch the Ohbot from; the weather forecast, objects like trees, the climbing frames and masts and getting clearance from Air Traffic Control.
Dan from Ohbot Ltd explains the considerations involved when deciding where to launch the Ohbot from; the weather forecast, objects like trees, the climbing frames and masts and getting clearance from Air Traffic Control.
Chapter 2 - Pre-flight Preparations
Chapter 2 - Pre-flight Preparations
Permission to launch has been granted before 5am. Last minute preparations involve connecting a piece of cord to the bottom of the parachute and the payload box.
Permission to launch has been granted before 5am. Last minute preparations involve connecting a piece of cord to the bottom of the parachute and the payload box.
Pupils from St Mary's arrive and are excited to be part of the launch.
Pupils from St Mary's arrive and are excited to be part of the launch.
Chapter 3 - Preparing the Balloon for Launch
Chapter 3 - Preparing the Balloon for Launch
Dan and the pupils at St Mary's don their goggles in preparation for the launch. They send a test balloon up first, to watch the direction of travel and adjust the launch site accordingly. Then they prep the helium and start inflating the balloon ready for launch.
Dan and the pupils at St Mary's don their goggles in preparation for the launch. They send a test balloon up first, to watch the direction of travel and adjust the launch site accordingly. Then they prep the helium and start inflating the balloon ready for launch.
Chapter 4 - The Flight
Chapter 4 - The Flight
The Ohbot receives a countdown and then it is launched. It ponders on thoughts and emotions as it gradually rises higher and higher above St Mary's, North London.
The Ohbot receives a countdown and then it is launched. It ponders on thoughts and emotions as it gradually rises higher and higher above St Mary's, North London.
Chapter 5 - Post Launch Review
Chapter 5 - Post Launch Review
An hour and 15 minutes after launch, Dan explains how he has tracked the Ohbot and sets about trying to locate it.
An hour and 15 minutes after launch, Dan explains how he has tracked the Ohbot and sets about trying to locate it.
Chapter 6 - The Chase Begins
Chapter 6 - The Chase Begins
We see Dan driving along the M11 in the direction of Cambridge. The data from the spot tracker shows the Ohbot has travelled much further to the east than anticipated and is currently travelling towards the coast. The flight path is very different to the one predicted!
We see Dan driving along the M11 in the direction of Cambridge. The data from the spot tracker shows the Ohbot has travelled much further to the east than anticipated and is currently travelling towards the coast. The flight path is very different to the one predicted!
Chapter 7 - Getting Close
Chapter 7 - Getting Close
The hunt continues but the data suggests the payload has come down. The location is shown on the payload tracker. Using coordinates it appears the Ohbot has landed in the middle of a field, near Redhouse Farm.
The hunt continues but the data suggests the payload has come down. The location is shown on the payload tracker. Using coordinates it appears the Ohbot has landed in the middle of a field, near Redhouse Farm.
Chapter 8 - Possible Landing
Chapter 8 - Possible Landing
The tracker shows a number of location marks somewhere to the west of Southwold
The tracker shows a number of location marks somewhere to the west of Southwold
Chapter 9 - The Search Begins
Chapter 9 - The Search Begins
The farmer who owns the field gives permission for Dan to look for the Ohbot. He begins looking for evidence of the balloon and/or payload.
The farmer who owns the field gives permission for Dan to look for the Ohbot. He begins looking for evidence of the balloon and/or payload.
The crop in the field is very dense and quite tall making it hard to find the exact spot the Ohbot has landed in; Dan can see a speck of orange. Is it the Ohbot?
The crop in the field is very dense and quite tall making it hard to find the exact spot the Ohbot has landed in; Dan can see a speck of orange. Is it the Ohbot?
Chapter 10 - The Discovery
Chapter 10 - The Discovery
Some white string is spotted - will this be the location of the landing spot?
Some white string is spotted - will this be the location of the landing spot?
Tension mounts as Dan gets closer to the parachute - will the payload box still be attached? Will the Ohbot be in one piece?
Tension mounts as Dan gets closer to the parachute - will the payload box still be attached? Will the Ohbot be in one piece?
Chapter 11 - Retrieval
Chapter 11 - Retrieval
The Ohbot is still moving and speaking after nearly 5 hours, however the camera has stopped. Apart from a spot of mud on one of its eyeballs the Ohbot is relatively unscathed despite a tricky retrieval. Ohbot is powered down but what will the data analysis uncover about its journey to near space?
The Ohbot is still moving and speaking after nearly 5 hours, however the camera has stopped. Apart from a spot of mud on one of its eyeballs the Ohbot is relatively unscathed despite a tricky retrieval. Ohbot is powered down but what will the data analysis uncover about its journey to near space?