TAHOE andamp;#8212; Space Science for Schools, a Nevada nonprofit dedicated to science education for both teachers and students, in collaboration with the Boys andamp; Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe, will be launching a weather balloon to andamp;#8220;near space,andamp;#8221; 100,000 ft., as a scientific experiment. The balloon will tow with it a parachute for decent from the stratosphere, and an insulated payload. The balloon will burst at 100,000 ft. altitude and the payload will parachute back to earth. The payload will include scientific instruments for measuring atmospheric temperature and barometric pressure as well as a video camera and a still camera for photographing the entire flight which will consume a total of about two hours.The launch and recovery will be assisted with two on-board GPS devises, a strobe light attached to the payload, and a support aircraft which will track the progress of the package. Boys and Girls Club members will participate in planning, tracking, and photographing the entire mission.The launch will occur within four weeks from the Washoe Valley area dependent upon weather conditions. The scientific data received in the initial flight will be utilized in a subsequent flight to occur in May as a part of Nevada Space Day. andamp;#8212; Submitted by Alan Castator, director for Space Science for Schools volunteer and past board president Boys and Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe