Maybe we can coin a new phrase “releasing sulphur” for any operation by a company that is adulterated specifically to get more press coverage. In other words they do something differently for the sole reason of going
viral.
So, basically what all those youtubers do when sending balloons up? Mark my utterly unimpressed. I think the rainbow background very fitting so, they only forgot to add the pink unicorn.
Yes, this is how engineering works. They calibrate their equipment's altitude and flight pattern predictions, then modify the equipment to vent at the target altitude (both the balloon gas, to arrest ascent, and the cloud chamber, to disperse the chemical), then test to make sure their modifications are working correctly. Then they finalize that design and enter into production of a calibrated device whose target altitude they can be confident of hitting.
I'm not sure they're trying to impress you, but they have a feedback form if you want to let them know.
That's not how engineering works. But what do you expect from someone with a Bachelor of Science from Wharton Business school and no education in anything engineering related?
Do you have a form founders can fill out to make sure their credentials meet your approval before they get too far down the startup pipeline? I'd hate to see anyone miss out on criticism as helpful and as insightful as this.
In case I were a VC, or Angel investor, I would have. And right on top of said list would be, when we talk about hardware, proper engineering education. And ideally experience.
Funny, how due dilligence seems to have gone right out of the window in the last couple of years, only to be replaced by having the right connections.
Validate that the contents of a balloon are released at the altitude the balloon ruptures? That seems like a very weak cover for action, especially since they admit in earlier statements that they are trying to grab attention... and also sell "cooling credits". Mission accomplished - they got that attention they wanted.
The plan is for the balloon to partially vent at a target altitude, and a separate cloud chamber to release then. This test is of an off-the-shelf balloon kit, presumably to validate altitude targets and flight predictions. They've been pretty open about exactly what they're doing and when, and even had (still have, technically) a feedback form for you to submit your advice.
None of that "plan" or "test" actually needs to release any sulfur dioxide, especially because they don't seem to be doing any kind of measurements of the substance once released. Pretending this is anything but an intentional act of provocation isn't "pretty open about exactly what they're doing". This is really all somebody needs to read to know what is going on:
> Luke Iseman, a serial inventor and the former director of hardware at Y Combinator, believed all of that research was not happening fast enough. So he started tinkering with releasing sulfur dioxide particles into the atmosphere with balloons, raised venture capital to fund the startup, and brought on co-founder Andrew Song to manage sales.
You seem to be upset that they're charging money for something, and then you separately seem to be upset that they're trying to do the actual work needed to fulfill the promises made via the sales. Is Luke Iseman supposed to just sit down and stop having a job, or does he merely need your signoff before he starts a new project? What, in the end, is your point?
I'm not sure I'm ready to join you in outrage that someone started a business for the purpose of earning money.
