At 9:15 AM, the first balloon was completely filled and ready to launch. Team
members secured it for fifteen minutes, until the second balloon was filled. With
everything tied off, taped up, and ready to fly, twelve eighth-grade volunteers were
allowed to hold the payloads, six per payload train (Appendix F; Images 14 and 15).
When all spectators had backed up from the launch site, the balloons were launched, one
after the other. Ms. Courtney released the first balloon at 9:50 AM and Mr. Borchardt
released the second balloon seconds after