Third Launch s’more-004

u4b
WSPR
20m
32in balloon x2
Helium 99%

Single SolarFlex design using 5.1V regulator.

Balloon went up and immediately descended, landing somewhere near the Ohio-West Virginia border. Total flight time, less than a day.

Published

May 2, 2026

Abstract

smore-004 was similar to smore-002. The launch went well, but after reaching about 6500 meters altitude immediately started to descend and landed somewhere near the Ohio-West Virginia border, not making it out of Ohio. Assumed to be either a balloon or rigging failure. The balloon went north, crossing the Arctic Circle but because trapped in the middle of a storm and likely went down due to icing near Baffin Island, Canada.

Tracking information

Design

Smore-004 is similar to smore-002 using the same regulator and solar panel design.

Payload at launch site, monitoring voltage and waiting for sun rise

Payload at launch site, monitoring voltage and waiting for sun rise