U.S. Air Force Academy
U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo-- A radiosonde is activated and prepared for launch as cadets prepare to launch a weather balloon to study the atmosphere. The balloon was tracked to an altitude of 30,000 feet, giving a vertical profile of temperature, humidity and pressure of the atmosphere before it's signal was lost over eastern Colorado. The balloon most likely popped around an altitude of 65,000 feet and then floated down harmlessly under parachute to the ground. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Mike Kaplan)