Switzerland Aero Logical Station Payerne, 1953 (b/w photo)

An employee of the Payerne Aerological Station filling and tying the balloon in the balloon hangar, recorded in 1953. The radio probe consists of three instruments: the barometer, thermometer and hygrometer, which are connected to a small transmitter powered by dry batteries in such a way that the instruments on board the “flying weatherman” can be read remotely in a ground station. The whole apparatus, which weighs 1 to 1.5 kilograms, is carried up by a rubber balloon filled with hydrogen. With increasing height this balloon expands more and more, until it finally bursts. A parachute reduces the speed of case so that the sample does not cause any damage. The average altitude reached by the radio is about 13 to 15 kilometers, but they can also be reached with larger special balloons up to 25 kilometers.