Space agency launches high-altitude balloon on 2nd attempt
Balloon launched from Timmins, Ont., and was to ascend to nearly 32 kilometres
The Canadian Space Agency says it has successfully launched the first stratospheric balloon in Canada under a joint Canadian-French program.
Wednesday night's launch was the second attempt after a launch planned for Monday night had to be scrubbed due to unfavourable weather.
The balloon was launched from Timmins, Ont., at 8:35 p.m. ET and is to ascend to nearly 32 kilometres, and fly for about four to ten hours.
The agency says it should land in a 500 kilometre radius area from the launch site.
If the wind blows east, it could land in Quebec close to Rouyn-Noranda, Amos or Val d'Or. If it blows west, it could land close to the Ontario communities of Wawa, Kapuskasing, Chapleau or Sudbury.
The balloon is designed to give Canadian scientists a new platform to advance space science for up to 40 times less than the cost of a satellite or a launcher.