New stratospheric balloon experiments launched in Timmins
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is back in Timmins launching stratospheric balloons to collect data about our atmosphere.
Working with France's space agency and scientists from around the world, officials said these launches can teach us about greenhouse gases and provide other scientific information.
Phillipe Vincent, the mission manager for the CSA's stratospheric balloon program, told CTV News every launch reveals more about our planet and improves how the world's space agencies operate in earth's upper atmosphere.
And this year makes it a decade that northern Ontario has been hosting these experiments.
"Scientists are eager to get data from everywhere in the world. They want to fly often, they don't just want to fly once. They want to compare data, see the evolution," Vincent said.
Around 90 scientists from around the world are in the city working on four balloon launches for this year's 'strata' campaign -- each carrying different payloads and collecting a variety of data.
France's balloons carry about one tonne of technology, including an Italian telescope built to look at the sun and different types of solar sensors that could be installed on a satellite.
A Canadian team is working on a smaller balloon, testing equipment that monitors greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere and emissions coming from the ground level.
Adam Bourassa is a physics professor at the University of Saskatchewan who is involved in the project.
"The balloon can actually take the instrumentation really high in the atmosphere. Much, much higher than an airplane, way above the ozone layer. So, even on a beautiful, blue-sky day like this, the balloon goes so high, it's up in the blackness of space," Bourassa said.
"It does give you an environment that's very much like what it would be like to be on a satellite."
Adding, the instruments can eventually be used to monitor the change in certain greenhouse gas levels over time, potentially helping scientists monitor how those changes affect the planet.
"CO2 and methane are both gases that are important in the causes of climate change and the pollution layers that we look at above the clouds also have impacts on how clouds form and how clouds last and are also important factors in understanding our climate," Bourassa said.
The balloons can house technology from several teams of scientists running various experiments and the CSA is looking forward to welcoming more scientists over the coming decade as it expands the base with a multi-million-dollar facility.
"Maybe welcome other partners and new companies that would like to come test here, their experiments and technologies," Vincent said.
Locals can see balloons floating through the sky at any time of day, depending on the conditions scientists need for their experiments.
Scientists can also guide each balloon's landing, which can sometimes be within the province or even elsewhere in the country.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.