Overview
Student in Physical Science Research I at the Bronx High School of Science
2016 Cubes in Space selected project
Bronx, NY
September 2016-June 2017
Design
![IMG_2516.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/cc0b4a_b5cdd841d744405da03f5cf78e697a11~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_256,y_0,w_2747,h_1724/fill/w_589,h_370,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/IMG_2516_JPG.jpg)
My team developed a method to use bellows as an airtight seal to trap CO2 from the upper atmosphere
![CubeModel.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/cc0b4a_3198291672644d3d8065805a2be7459b~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_0,y_0,w_1174,h_902/fill/w_594,h_456,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/CubeModel.png)
I created a CAD model of my team's cube in SketchUp
The payload was designed to determine whether a small, simple device would be able to measure CO₂ in the upper atmosphere, without being contaminated by CO₂ from lower altitudes. Brass bellows, after testing in a bell jar, were used as a seal for a hole in the top of the cube, and CO₂ indicator strips were placed inside the experimental cube to detect CO₂.
At ground pressure, the bellows fully covered the hole, preventing CO₂ from entering the cube. When the cube was elevated into the low pressure of the atmosphere, the blocks separated and allowed the CO₂ indicator strips to accurately measure CO₂ in the atmosphere. When the cube was brought back down to the higher pressure earth, the blocks pushed together and resealed the cube from CO₂. Important techniques used in this experiment were 3D printing, CAD, and soldering.
Testing
![IMG_2512.JPG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/cc0b4a_eeceee47c12b46228dd83aea1c6d9e96~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_106,h_142,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/IMG_2512_JPG.jpg)
We tested the bellows in a bell jar to determine how they expanded and contracted under pressure differences
![CubePics.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/cc0b4a_558115409ba449cbbf18abdc425b3615~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_60,h_30,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/CubePics.png)
The final cube design
Launch!
The cubes were launched from on a high altitude balloon from the NASA Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Fort Sumner, New Mexico.
![P_20150625_123632.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/cc0b4a_0c21db52ad514436bdf14e1584e8d614~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_1004,y_0,w_2014,h_2297/fill/w_74,h_84,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/P_20150625_123632.jpg)
Cubes in Space
The balloon payload ready for launch
![P_20150625_130625.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/cc0b4a_41a4702e7f0c4af284ea78a45513590c~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_1113,y_0,w_1713,h_2106/fill/w_69,h_84,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/P_20150625_130625.jpg)
Cubes in Space
All of the cubes stored in the payload
![balloonbox.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/cc0b4a_88496f2b7a1b43d1bd6de6227db3b928~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_103,h_77,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/balloonbox.jpg)
Cubes in Space
The high altitude balloon launching from New Mexico