A stratospheric kebab sounds like a student joke. However, in Strasbourg, apprentice engineers are very seriously preparing the takeoff of a sandwich to an altitude of nearly 35,000 meters, in the stratosphere. On the morning of May 29, their weather balloon should take off from Schiltigheim, carrying in its nacelle a kebab packed with sensors and cameras.
Behind this project called , there is a real scientific and technical experience, carried out by students from Icam Strasbourg and several local partners. And the story begins well before the famous launch.
Space kebs: the slightly crazy project of the students of Icam Strasbourg
It all started from a desire of budding engineers: to design a weather balloon to explore the atmosphere. First year preparatory class students at the Catholic Institute of Arts and Crafts in Strasbourg, Clémentine Jimenez-Dumont, Corentin Metz and Julien Hentsch imagined this project supervised by their school. Julien Hentsch summarizes their approach: , he explains to France 3.
To find sponsors, the group remembered that one of their teachers had already sent a pretzel up high. Clémentine Jimenez-Dumont tells: , she said. The Knack line communications agency joined the adventure to promote this unusual but very well-defined project.
How to send a kebab into the stratosphere at 35,000 meters
At the heart of , we find a weather balloon inflated with helium, provided by an approved aerotechnician commissioned by the Planète science association. Hanging below, a pod built by the students will carry the sandwich, several sensors, cameras and a GPS. The ascent should take between two and three hours, until reaching around 30,000 meters, or even the goal of **35,000 meters above sea level**, where temperatures could drop to around -50°C.
The most delicate part, for the five students involved, remains the mass of the whole. Each element is weighed, each cable shortened. The group has already designed two nacelle prototypes and is working on a third, lighter model to gain a few hundred additional meters. The GPS must make it possible to follow the flight live and locate the basket on the descent, after the balloon bursts.
Scientific measurements useful for other student projects
Behind the funny image of a kebab floating above the clouds, the goal is very serious. , explains Clémentine Jimenez-Dumont. From this cartography, the students want to analyze the meteorological data and build an in-house repository on the behavior of the atmosphere above Alsace.
This data will not stay in a drawer. Corentin Metz already sees it as a tool for other teams: , he says. And then, there is the very concrete dimension of this work: budget management, search for partners, mechanical design, on-board electronics. Takeoff is scheduled for May 29 in the morning, weather permitting, from the Icam square, 2 rue de Madrid in Schiltigheim.
FAQ about the kebab sent into the stratosphere
Will the kebab sent into the stratosphere still be edible upon return?
The sandwich will experience temperatures that can drop to -50°C, then a drop from nearly 30,000 to 35,000 meters. The objective being scientific, it is not planned to consume it on return.
What are the sensors on board the kebab used for?
The sensors measure temperature, pressure, humidity and altitude throughout the flight. These data are used to map the atmosphere and create a reference for future projects such as the experimental rockets of Icam Strasbourg.
Why use a helium-filled weather balloon?
The weather balloon makes it possible to reach the stratosphere in a relatively simple and inexpensive manner. Helium, supplied by an aerotechnician via the Planète science association, offers sufficient lift while remaining suitable for this type of supervised experience.
How long does the kebab’s rise into the stratosphere take?
The students estimate that the rise of the weather balloon will last between two and three hours before reaching the target altitude, depending on the weather and the final mass of the gondola.
Where and when will the launch of the Space kebs project take place?
Takeoff is scheduled for May 29 in the morning, if weather conditions are favorable, from the square in front of Icam Strasbourg, at 2 rue de Madrid in Schiltigheim, in Bas-Rhin.
