University of Winnipeg weather balloon goes missing

The University of Winnipeg weather balloon that launched this morning has lost contact with the science students who are running the experiment. The unmanned balloon went missing over the Dugald, Man. area. 

A team of University of Winnipeg students launched the balloon 8 a.m. Friday morning at FortWhyte Alive.

It is equipped with a camera and sensors to record data. It's part of a project called the High Altitude Balloon Experiment or HABEX.

The white balloon weighs just 600 grams and its one-metre wide parachute was launched using helium.

Universities and high schools from across the country are gathering, analyzing and sharing environmental data and 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," said Kimberly Thomson, one of the students involved in the project. 

Dr. Tabitha Wood, 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 contact climateguy@gmail.com.