Found in the forest

"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland) 04/20/2019 at 12:30 • Filed to: None

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During our dog walk today we found a decaying styrofoam box with things attached to it. It’s the remains of a NOAA weather balloon!

Since the label said made in Mexico and Lockheed Martin I assumed it was a way to smuggle drugs across the border.

facw > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 04/20/2019 at 12:40

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Neat!

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 04/20/2019 at 12:45

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Cool! So you're sending it back to em?

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 04/20/2019 at 12:50

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Probably not, this one is heavily decayed, they would probably just throw it away. I’m guessing it’s been in the woods 5-10 years.

facw > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 04/20/2019 at 13:30

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I’d imagine whatever’s inside is well protected enough to be reused. And it looks quite similar to this 2018 model:

(albeit without the cardboard cover)

Apparently they only get 20% of them back, so I don’t think you need to feel like a monster for not returning it, but if you’re not going to do anything interesting with it (and I don’t know what you would do other than take it apart), you really should toss it in the bag and send it off.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 04/20/2019 at 13:37

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I don't think they even want it for reuse, but for data logging I would guess. If it's free to send back, I'd do it. 

facw > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 04/20/2019 at 13:53

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Given that the address is “Radiosonde R econditioning G roup”, I’d guess they do try to recondition for reuse. Hopefully most of the relevant data gets sent off by radio before it comes down.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > facw 04/20/2019 at 14:05

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I broke off a corner of the box before I realized what it was. All of the labels on the box have pretty much disintegrated. So my haste probably doomed this device but I will send it back.

f86sabre > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever 04/20/2019 at 14:23

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Send it in.  We found one a few years ago and it was free to send it back.  I sent them a note a few weeks later and they give sent me the flight profile including max altitude, distance covered and time of flight.  It was pretty cool.