The 434 MHz solar powered party balloon B-64, launched by radio amateur Leo Bodnar M0XER, is approaching the UK at the end of its record breaking journey around the world

Leo launched his balloon from Silverstone in the UK on 12 July 2014. It traveled over east across Asia, the Pacific and the Americas completing the final transatlantic crossing arriving over Cornwall after 400 hours, completing over 25,000km

Using the amateur radio APRS network the balloon has been tracked over Europe, Siberia, a brief sojourn across North Korea before heading out over Japan. From here it briefly entered the States before swinging north into Canada.

Radio amateurs and listeners should be able to receive B-64's Contestia 64/1000 signal on 434.500 MHz USB with the usual pips. When it is over the UK it will alternate the Contestia transmission with APRS also on 434.500 MHz running 10 mW output.

Track of B-64 - http://spacenear.us/tracker/?filter=B-64

Leo Bodnar M0XER balloons - http://www.leobodnar.com/balloons/

Download the dl-fldigi software - http://ukhas.org.uk/projects:dl-fldigi

Beginners Guide to Tracking using dl-fldigi - http://ukhas.org.uk/guides:tracking_guide