Burke Civil Air Patrol Squadron Completes Balloon Experiment

This report comes from C/2nd Lt. Samuel Ten, a Hayfield Secondary School student and member of the Civil Air Patrol's Burke Composite Squadron.

BURKE, VA — The Burke Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol took their learning to new heights with a high-altitude balloon launch challenge in August.

The Burke Composite Squadron, made up of members 12 and older interested in Civil Air Patrol opportunities, was one of nearly 200 squadrons participating the Civil Air Patrol’s High Altitude Balloon Challenge. Balloons were sent into the sky, subject to upper atmosphere conditions such as varying heat, pressure, and lacking humidity. Cadets participated by designing and preparing experiments as well as analyzing results. Aerospace company StratoStar provided assistance with the challenge.

Preparations for the project started in May. Cadets brainstormed ideas for experiments before deciding on three experiments: testing the strength of glue when holding wood blocks, the effects of UV rays at a higher altitude on dyed cloth, and what a higher altitude will do to SD cards.

"With Burke’s team spirit, we could truly see that the product was more than the sum of its parts," stated C/Capt. Austin Martin, a cadet leader and Robinson Secondary School student. "New ideas and different perspectives flowed in from each of the members, making our end products not only exemplary, but unique to Burke."

The squadron gathered in July to prepare and assemble their experiments. Cadets were able to learn about different tools and skills during the process, including a linear force gauge to measure the force that would cause the glue bond between two wood blocks to fail.

The launch day happened Aug. 21 in Anderson, Indiana. About 100 adult and cadet Civil Air Patron members from around the nation gathered to launch their experiments. Experiments reached up to 87,621 feet with temperatures of -40 degrees Fahrenheit and pressure as low as 0.305 pounds per square inch (PSI).

The squadron received their experiments back on Sept. 2 and went on to analyze the results. The cadets found that a glue with a higher concentration of water, such as Elmer's glue, became stronger after the trip to the stratosphere. Meanwhile, glue with a low concentration of water such as superglue became weaker. In the cloth experiment, cloth sent up became fully saturated with dye, while cloth on the ground stayed the same. The SD cards experiment found no notable changes in the cards, including no change in the speed of transferring data nor any corrupt data.

Analysis reports are due on Sept. 24 and a virtual awards ceremony is planned for Oct. 6.

The Burke Composite Squadron is one of 22 in the Virginia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol. The Civil Air Patrol is considered the auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. Founded in 1987, the Burke squadron has adult and youth members. The squadron received the 2021 Squadron of Merit Award from the Virginia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol for its work in 2020.

The squadron's latest award is the 2021 Quality Cadet Unit Award presented in September. The squadron had to meet six out of 10 criteria, which could include maintaining a minimum number of cadets on the roster, ensuring that new cadets that joined promoted and earned their first achievement in eight weeks, and that a certain number of cadets had met their first milestone award, transitioning from cadet airman to non-commissioned officer.

"This award exemplifies the teamwork of all our adult leaders and our cadets. In addition, the dedication of our members towards providing leadership and aerospace education to our cadets," said Captain Sara Demyanovich, commander of the Burke squadron.

For more information, visit vawg.cap.gov/units/burke.