Battery Box Art

The battery box contains the batteries for the flight. There is fluctuation in the intensity of the sunlight during the flight, so the batteries help ensure a consistent supply of electricity. The batteries need to be kept warmer than the ambient temperature at 100,000 feet, which is actually pretty close to freezing. To accomplish that, the panels covering the box need to be between 40 and 60 percent black. Last time they had an art contest with the winners get a monetary prize as well as the opportunity to see the balloon launch. This year they tried the contest again, but for whatever reason we didn't get sufficient entries, so two of the panels were done in house. I don't have a photo of the top panel, but I'll try to get one.

I'll also try to get a better shot of this panel.