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School Day At The K Activity Results In Two Hi-Def Cameras Missing
May 26, 2012
By the Tribune Staff
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Part of the festivities of School Day at the K (Kauffman Stadium), Thursday, May 17, this year included having the “balloon kam” team release a high altitude balloon carrying two hi-def cameras, science data loggers, and GPS.
The balloon was to broadcast a live TV signal to the Stadium where it was displayed on the large screen throughout the programs that day. Photos of the area from 96,000 feet high above Lee’s Summit and the surrounding area were recorded. The balloon had a designated flight plan; however, before it landed, the GPS signal was lost.
The last signal the team had, and the last images on the large screen, showed the balloon descending through 20,000 feet over the Highway 50-7 intersection. The designated landing area was to be near Highway E and 179th Street. Given the windy conditions that morning, Thursday, May 17, it is possible that the payload landed closer to the intersection, perhaps somewhere near the quarry area.
The “balloon kam” team has searched the area more than once in the past 10 days since the event, and has not been able to retrieve the camera.
The search for the cameras has been via car to this point, and the chances of them finding the cameras near the road may be rather slim. No rewards have been offered for the finding and return of the cameras and equipment; however, the staff at WDAF-TV and the Royals management is keenly interested in finding the recorded video, and the “balloon kam” team is equally concerned about retrieving their equipment, and seeing the video.
The balloon, if still attached, is assumed to be shredded at this point. However, the 6-foot red and blue parachute attached to the equipment might be easily seen. The apparatus holding the cameras looks very similar to a round popcorn tin, similar to the ones available at Christmas; however, this “tin” will be constructed of Styrofoam.
If you have any information concerning the location of the Hi-Def cameras, please contact either your area police department or Bob Riddle (a member of the “balloon kam” team) at (816) 525-6478.
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