Isaac Kubas prepares to launch his 4-H project, a weather balloon.
It was a close call for 9-year-old Isaac Kubas and his year-long 4-H project. Like millions of youth around the country this time of year, Isaac was finishing up his project when he lost it.
“I was nervous,” Isaac said, referring to the moment the GPS went out. “I thought we lost it right then and there.”
What Isaac thought he lost ended up flying 125 miles away from his Austin, Minn., home. There in the field of a Wisconsin farmer was his 4-H project: A weather balloon.
Isaac got the idea from a family friend who saw MIT students working on a similar project. The third grader then did all of the research for the project, including reviewing previous attempts by others and reviewing FAA airspace guidelines, and mowed lawns and shoveled driveways to earn money for supplies.
He only needed a few items: a Styrofoam cooler, Nikon Coolpix camera, Motorola phone with GPS software, 50 feet of rope, a parachute and a weather balloon. Once he had everything, he began to think of the little things.
“I used hand warmers to keep the camera and phone from freezing,” Isaac said. The camera lens was positioned through a hole in the bright orange cooler. It was set to take a photo once every minute.
“I couldn’t comprehend that I took the pictures when I saw them,” said Isaac.
The photos came from 13 miles above earth, 67,000 feet. According to Isaac, a jetliner travels at 36,000 feet.
“I may do this again, but with a balloon that goes up to 100,000 feet or higher.”
Before launching a weather balloon, Isaac started off in the Rock Solid 4-H Club working on projects covering Monarch Butterflies, and how to create paper. His mother, Teresa Kubas, says she has seen a lot of positive changes in Isaac through his 4-H experience.
“As a club, the kids have to make a demonstration to the group that helps them with their public speaking skills,” said Kubas. “I’m not aware of any other venues for kids that doing this, and he doesn’t even think twice when he has to speak in public.”
“This was a good project,” said Isaac. “It gave me something to do for a long time.”
“4-H is cool,” he continued. “You get to see what other kids are doing, too.”
Although he has some years to go, Isaac says this project has helped him consider a career in aviation. But for now, he’s looking forward to fourth grade, and starting his next 4-H project.
An image of the Earth taken by Isaac's project.
Isaac at the landing site in Wisconsin, 202 miles away (by car) from his home in Minnesota.