AMET balloon is Best Design in competition

Purdue University's entry into the 2014 Global Space Balloon Challenge (GSBC) won first place in the best design contest. The annual event is an international education outreach project to encourage people from around the world to build and launch their own high-altitude balloons.

The Purdue team, composed of members of the Association of Mechanical and Electrical Technologists (AMET), built a zero-pressure balloon for the competition.

First prize included five Arduino microcontrollers, $200 in gift cards, and a high-altitude balloon. The competition took place in April, and award winners were announced in late June.

WLFI in West Lafayette covered the award and the next step for the team -- a rocket launch from the balloon!