Helios Project - KM4EFW

Twitter page for David Wiwel's around the world weather balloon named "Helios". Follow this page for updates as the balloon travels around the world.

[Helios Project - KM4EFW @Helios_2020]

If you would like to track Helios-1 on its own use this link to track it on the WSPR website https://t.co/0jImiQmLv5

Set the Band to 20m, the time period to 10min, and put in the callsign KM4EFW

[Helios Project - KM4EFW @Helios_2020]

HELIOS-1 HAS DONE IT!!! After traveling over 31,700 kilometers Helios-1 had securely completed its first circumnavigation of the earth winning the #balloonbet. Who knows how long Helios-1 will go. Cruelty crossing over the Outer Banks on its way back across the Atlantic.

[Helios Project - KM4EFW @Helios_2020]

Helios-1 is back online and only 300 kilometers from completing its first circumnavigation, and winning the $500 bet #balloonbet #WorldTravel

[Helios Project - KM4EFW @Helios_2020]

Helios-1 has gone to sleep on day 10 and is now in southeast Colorado, hopefully, he will make it home tomorrow. Total distance coved 29,400 kilometers, mission clock at T+13,231min.

[Helios Project - KM4EFW @Helios_2020]

The full ballon track so far. Still receiving signals as Helios-1 makes it across the United States. #USA #balloonbet #WorldTravel

[Helios Project - KM4EFW @Helios_2020]

Helios-1 HAS MADE IT ACROSS THE ATLANTIC AND IS BACK OVER THE USA. Currently picking up APRS pings once again currently over Montana. Helios-1 currently moving south at 84mph.

[Helios Project - KM4EFW @Helios_2020]

You will most likely now have to set the time to three hours until the balloon comes back online.

[Helios Project - KM4EFW @Helios_2020]

If you would like to track Helios-1 on its own use this link to track it on the WSPR website https://t.co/0jImiQmLv5

Set the Band to 20m, the time period to 10min, and put in the callsign KM4EFW

[Helios Project - KM4EFW @Helios_2020]

The sun had set on day 9 for Helios-1. Currently about 640 kilometers west of the Alaska coast. Total distance covered about 26,800 kilometers, mission clock at T+11,904 minutes. #AroundTheWorld #balloonbet

[Helios Project - KM4EFW @Helios_2020]

Helios-1 is AWAKE and coming to the end of its journey across the Pacific Ocean. He was pushed up into the Gulf of Alaska due to the jet stream, Helios-1 is expected to dip down south into the United States before rising up north as it completes its first circumnavigation.

[Helios Project - KM4EFW @Helios_2020]

Helios-1 is awake and ALMOST HOME!!! Currently about halfway across the Pacific Ocean. Current jetstream predictions are telling us that Helios-1 should shoot up North to Canada before flying down to Mexico and then ultimately across the United States.

[Helios Project - KM4EFW @Helios_2020]

#balloonbet #WorldTravel #PacificOcean

[Helios Project - KM4EFW @Helios_2020]

Big news, Helios-1 has made contact with the United States, this is the first contact with the US since Europe.

[Helios Project - KM4EFW @Helios_2020]

Helios-1 has gone to sleep on day six and is still going strong over eastern China. Hopefully, we can get some more APRS pings tonight before it embarks on its long journey home, across the Pacific. Mission clock at T+8,272min total distance at 16,898 kilometers. #balloonbet

[Helios Project - KM4EFW @Helios_2020]

HELIOS-1 IS AWAKE ONCE MORE!!!! Currently over central China... heading right for NORTH KOREA 👀(side note if it flies over North Korea I get a bonus $200 as part of the #balloonbet )

[Helios Project - KM4EFW @Helios_2020]

Will Helios-1 survive the neutrinos Himalayan weather as it passes the tallest point on earth today? Only time will tell. #balloonbet #MtEverest

[Helios Project - KM4EFW @Helios_2020]

Day five has come and gone for Helios-1 and it's STILL going strong, no APRS signal today because there are no APRS receiving stations in this region, but WSPR is still going strong, it was last heard over Afganastan. Total distance traveled about 12,350km mission clock T+6798min

[Helios Project - KM4EFW @Helios_2020]

@jackslingerland @mtdotnet Go check out “Big sky theory” this explains the astronomically low odds of a mid air collision. The second factor is how small and lite the balloon is, if an aircraft where to collide with it the aircraft wouldn’t even be effected, and the pilot wouldn’t even be able to tell.

[Helios Project - KM4EFW @Helios_2020]

The sun has set on day 4 for Helios-1, currently just east of Aleppo, Syria. Total distance traveled about 9,800 kilometers. Misson clock at T+5,315min.

[Helios Project - KM4EFW @Helios_2020]

When do we think @lukecoyle22 is going to start really getting worried? #balloonbet

[Rogo @rogosich]

While we don’t support gambling, the $500 bet between senior friends is to send a balloon around the world before graduation. #onlyatgibbons #SenioritisIsaMyth

[Helios Project - KM4EFW @Helios_2020]

@mtdotnet And the last few days have shown us that it tends to turn on rather fast after it get hit by the full sun.

[Helios Project - KM4EFW @Helios_2020]

@mtdotnet Using the habhub predictor and looking at the jet stream we can get a general idea of what it’s going to do during the night, also by looking at where the sun is currently shining around the earth we can determine the time when it will first see sunlight again.

[Helios Project - KM4EFW @Helios_2020]

If you would like to track the ballon on APRS go to https://t.co/sFhXAy1MtS and type in the callsign KM4EFW-12 this will give the exact location of the ballon as well as speed, altitude, and temperature.