Rob
(a $60 E-bay camera) in a syrofoam box, GPS (the most expensive part of the kit) and a timer and radio locator and sent the whole thing 22 miles high into space (or the farthest reaches of our atmosphere). When the helium filled 6 foot weather balloon popped, it deployed a parachute which carried the camera and electronics safely back to earth where they were recovered.
http://neeshu.com/Articles/british-amateur-beats-nasa-in-space-pictures.html
Now much of the fuss about this is rubbish, particularly those who suggest that this sort of thing calls NASA's usefulness into question. You can't get the resolution or the massive amounts of data needed out of this little contraption, but it is quite an achievement for about $750. (I hope I haven't confused $ with Pounds but it's still incredibly cheap).
Rob
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