A second-year engineering student from Karur has launched a small atmospheric research device using a helium balloon to collect data on temperature, humidity, air pressure and weather conditions in the stratosphere.
The device was launched from the Karur district sports ground on October 17, according to a report by Dinamalar. It was designed by Vignesh, a student of Electrical and Communication Engineering at V.S.B. Private Engineering College in Karur, along with members of his team.
The student also runs a startup and developed the device out of an interest in space research. Rather than using a conventional rocket, the team selected a helium balloon launch method to carry out research at a substantially lower cost.
According to Vignesh, rocket launches can cost several crores of rupees, while a helium balloon provides a more affordable way to conduct atmospheric experiments. The device was intended to reach an altitude of between 20 and 30 kilometres, within the stratosphere, the atmospheric layer above most of the weather experienced at ground level.
The project’s stated objectives include investigating the causes of extreme heat conditions in Karur district and collecting data related to the impact of El Niño on global weather patterns. The device is transmitting atmospheric temperature, humidity and air-pressure readings directly to a ground-control centre, the report said.
The experiment is significant as a low-cost atmospheric sensing effort rather than an orbital satellite mission. The device is being carried into the upper atmosphere by a helium balloon and is expected to return to Earth after completing its planned data collection. The report said the payload would use a descent-and-landing system resembling a parachute for recovery.
After retrieval, the device is expected to undergo additional examination and analysis. The recovery phase will allow the team to inspect the equipment and use the recorded observations for further research, according to the student’s account.
The project has received a grant of Rs 1 lakh through the Tamil Nadu government’s StartupTN programme. The support places the experiment within the state’s broader effort to assist early-stage student and startup innovation, although the supplied report does not provide further details about the grant conditions or technical review of the payload.
The project’s eventual research value will depend on the quality, continuity and interpretation of the data collected at different altitudes. For now, the launch marks an effort to use a relatively low-cost balloon platform for local atmospheric observations, with Karur’s heat conditions and wider weather patterns as its stated areas of focus.
