Callsign: KF8HLQ
Channel: 494
HHS VERITY 26-01 - AETHER AETHER is the first of six student-engineered pico balloons developed by the Aerospace Engineering III class at Hurricane High School in Hurricane, West Virginia, as part of the 2026 Near-Space Flight Systems project. The mission uses a lightweight, solar-powered QRP Labs U4B tracker with GPS and 20-meter WSPR amateur radio transmissions to track the balloon as it travels with high-altitude winds. Students designed, constructed, programmed, and tested their flight systems with the goal of achieving sustained flight over the greatest possible distance. The HHS VERITY program is supported by the West Virginia Amateur Radio community, whose volunteers have helped students learn about amateur radio communications and earn their radio licenses. Follow AETHER's journey using the live tracking information on this page!