Jefferson Intermediate 5th grade sciences classes, along with the Pella Amateur Radio Club, launched a pico-satellite into the skies from the west side of their school Monday morning.

Through the Pella Explores Near Space program, the club has been educating the 5th grade science classes about: the troposphere, GPS technology, jet streams, and the buoyancy factor of helium balloons. Fifth grader Rebecca Sharkey tells KNIA/KRLS News they had high hopes for the project as it launched and learned a lot about the balloon’s potential.

However, the Pella Amateur Radio Club says the satellite made it as far as Illinois before an issue with the balloon caused it to likely crash land in the east central part of the state.