BURST - Balloon in Upper-Stratosphere Resilience and Survivability Testing

Project BURST is a recoverable two-unit high-altitude payload developed to evaluate sensor performance, flight dynamics, and operational procedures for near-space experiments. A preliminary test flight in May 2025 reached ~1,500 m (~5,000 ft) and verified GPS tracking, environmental sensing, and recovery plans. A subsequent mission in November 2025 achieved an apogee of 28,364 m (93,058 ft), providing a complete ascent–burst–descent profile. SPOT Trace telemetry enabled validation of ascent rate, burst altitude, and descent characteristics, and this data was compared against a Monte-Carlo wind-drift simulation driven by launch-day Skew-T winds. The close agreement between simulated and measured altitude profiles confirms the accuracy of the ascent and burst model, while differences in horizontal drift reflect atmospheric variability at higher altitudes. The payload also includes accommodation for biological samples, enabling future studies with E. coli, lettuce seeds, and tardigrades. This paper summarizes the payload architecture, flight performance, and modeling results that together establish a reliable platform for upcoming high-altitude balloon experiments.