University of Winnipeg weather balloon goes missing

The University ofWinnipeg weather balloon thatlaunched this morning haslostcontact with the science students who are running the experiment. The unmanned balloonwent missingover theDugald, Man.area.

A team of University of Winnipeg students launched the balloon8 a.m. Friday morningat FortWhyte Alive.

It is equipped witha camera and sensors to record data. It'spart of a project called the High Altitude Balloon Experiment orHABEX.

The white balloon weighs just 600 grams and itsone-metrewide parachute was launched using helium.

Universities and high schools from across the countryare gathering, analyzing andsharing environmental dataand high definition video from the edge of space.

"The opportunity to team up with universities from across Canada to participate in this experiment is quite phenomenal," saidKimberly Thomson, one of the students involved in theproject.

Dr. TabithaWood, assistant professor of chemistry at the university, says the project will help Canadians share their passion for using science to explore the world.

If the balloon is found contactclimateguy@gmail.com.