St. Bernhard students launch Berna the Bee into the stratosphere
St. Bernhard students launch Berna the Bee into the stratosphere
St. Bernhard students launch Berna the Bee into the stratosphere
St. Bernhard High School's Stratospheric Balloon: To the Edge of Space
A glimpse of the edge of space—that's what students at St. Bernhard High School dared to achieve with their stratospheric balloon project, launched from the school's own makerspace.
December 13, 2025
Experts from Stratoflights guided and assisted the students in constructing the probes. Within just a few hours, the provided materials were transformed into impressive models equipped to carry data loggers, a camera, and additional experiments. The probe, affectionately named "Berna the Bee," was soon ready for its journey. On a brilliant morning, amid cheers from the students, the helium-filled balloon lifted off from the schoolyard.
A recovery team then set out to locate the probe after landing, using its built-in GPS tracker. The first responders arrived right on time at a field southwest of Bonn, where they were still able to witness the probe's descent. Both the probe with its instruments and the attached experiments survived the flight unscathed—despite "Berna the Bee" ascending to an altitude of just over 30 kilometers, enduring temperatures as low as -60°C, and descending safely by parachute.
Weeks passed before the data could be fully analyzed. The findings offered fascinating insights into atmospheric conditions at the edge of space, including the effects of reduced gravity, temperature, and ozone on chemical experiments. But the real highlight was the onboard camera's video footage, capturing breathtaking images from the stratosphere, as well as the dramatic moments of launch and landing.
The project has undoubtedly sparked strong motivation for more thrilling experiments in St. Bernhard High School's newly established makerspace.