By Lily Plass

ABC Western Plains

Topic: Science

Sunday, 5 July 2026, 9:26 am

In short:

Newcastle students sent two balloons 35 km high.

The balloons weighed 3 kg each.

Students collected data on temperature and speed.

Newcastle students launched two homemade balloons.

The students are part of a science class.

21 students helped launch the balloons in Cobar.

They chose Cobar to avoid the ocean.

It was easier to get the balloons back.

The balloons went 35 km high and then came back down.

One balloon string broke and landed near Tottenham.

The other balloon went 35 km high and landed in Narromine.

A 5-year-old boy helped find the balloon.

Ezra was riding his bike when he found the box.

Ezra helped get the balloon back.

This was a special project for the students.

Each balloon weighed 3 kg and was made of latex.

The balloons had trackers and equipment to collect data.

Some students added personal items to the balloons.

The students could see where the balloons were on a map.

The students added some keepsakes to the balloons.

The students raised $15,000 for the project.

Charlie was part of the media team.

Charlie thought the project was a great idea.

The students designed and made the balloons.

The wind blew the balloon further east.

This was not the first time the students sent a balloon up.

The first balloon went 28 km high in 2024.

Space starts about 100 km above the Earth.

The students traveled 700 km to Cobar.

The teacher enjoyed the project and wanted to do it again.

The teacher was proud of the students.

The students worked hard and had a great adventure.

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Sunday, 5 July 2026, 9:26 am

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