High altitude balloon over Sask today... Anyone have info?

[dxpr]

En route from YWG to YEG today, about 50nm east of YXE (just south of CJU4, Humboldt) ATC advised us of a balloon in our area, descending at 3000fpm thru 70,000 feet. The next report he said it was just thru 60,000 feet. We never did see it, but gave it a wide berth nonetheless...

I've heard of people launching balloons with gps transponder units, and cameras just for fun.

Anyone have any info on this launch?

[angry inch]

could it have been this guy's balloon??

http://www.calgarysun.com/2012/07/28/da ... bove-earth

[FlyGy]

I'm pretty sure that Roswell NM isn't 50nm East of YXE.

[Bushav8er]

Notams?

120224 CYHQ NATIONAL
CYHQ HEAVY SCIENTIFIC BALLOON OVERFLIGHT (SUP 21/12 AND 28/12)
EXTENDED
1207231740 TIL 1208230901

[FlyGy]

I thought of checking the NOTAMs as well but saw nothing there....after the fact of course. Got this from the FAA site though:

A5694/12 (Issued for CZQX CZUL CZWG CZEG) - HEAVY SCIENTIFIC BALLOON OVERFLIGHT (SUP 21/12 AND 28/12)
EXTENDED. SFC - UNL, 23 JUL 17:40 2012 UNTIL 23 AUG 09:01 2012. CREATED: 23
JUL 17:53 2012

[CD]

As referenced in both NOTAMS, here are the links to the AIP Canada Supplements:

AIP CANADA (ICAO) SUPPLEMENT 21/12 - NUNAVUT/NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, CANADA HEAVY SCIENTIFIC BALLOON OVERFLIGHT AND FLIGHT TERMINATION 15 JUNE 2012 TO 31 JULY 2012

AIP CANADA (ICAO) SUPPLEMENT 28/12 - NUNAVUT/NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, CANADA HEAVY SCIENTIFIC BALLOON OVERFLIGHT 1 JULY 2012 TO 31 JULY 2012

EDIT: Nevermind ... the reason the NOTAMs have been extended is that the PoGoLite mission has not yet launched: Homepage of the PoGoLite project

[FlyGy]

Hmmm, Humboldt area is quite a ways South of the expected balloon trajectory.