Nottingham University balloon missing in Oxfordshire

A hi-tech balloon launched in Nottingham, UK to take pictures of the Earth has been lost in Oxfordshire.

Nottingham University’s physics society, PhysNotts, released the balloon last Friday but lost its signal the same day.

They believe the helium balloon, which was taking photos of the curvature of the Earth, most likely landed around Oxford or Bicester.

The students are appealing for people to get in touch if they find it.

Kris Thobroe, president of PhysNotts, said: “The balloon will have popped by now, but what will be left will be a luminous green and orange parachute attached to a small silver and black box.

“It cost us about £200 but, if you went and found it, it is not really worth anything because it is all electronic things we put together ourselves.”

The signal was lost once it reached an altitude of 5km (3.1 miles) over the British Midlands. It was expected to reach 28km (17 miles).

Mr Thobroe said: “It had three on-board cameras taking videos and still photos, and from 28,000m we should have been able to get some really good photos of the curvature of the earth.”

The box may still be emitting a radio signal every five seconds at 434.65Mhz.

Mr Thobroe’s contact details are on the box.

via – BBC News