High-Altitude Ballooning Equipment and TSA

Last year I presented a report on the HALO I project at the National Space Grant Directors meeting in DC. The presentation went well and I met John Kosmatka the director of the California Space Grant and professor at University of California - San Diego (UCSD). After about 6 moths John contacted me to conduct a launch with his students in CA.

Matt Garver and myself made it to the airport on time, went through security with no problems. We were sitting at our gate when we heard this, "Will Matthew Garver please come to gate 18 for a message." Matt got up went to the gate, spoke with the agent, and walk down the airport and out of site. I had no idea where he was going but he left all of his luggage and phone.

45 minutes went by and Matt didn't come back. By this time people were boarding the plane and I am wondering what is going on. At this point I was trying to determine if I should board the plane with out Matt and fly to California. As the last five people were in line to board the plane I decided to gather my gear and board the plane. As was walking to ticketing agent Matt arrived and told me this story.

"I walked up to the gate and the woman told me TSA would like to talk with me about my checked baggage and to proceed back to security. When I arrived there were 4 TSA agents and the first one introduced himself as the Indianapolis Airport Bomb Inspector. They then lead me to another part of the airport where they had our case of equipment laid out on the a table."

This was the conversation:

Bomb Inspector: "What is this" holding up our APRS Pod.

Matt:"That is our weather balloon equipment, I work for a company which does weather balloon launches for Universities."

Bomb Inspector:"This came up positive for traces of a type of explosives. Do you mind if we open it?"

Matt:"Sure let me help you" as Matt steps forward

Bomb Inspector: "Sir, please step back!"

The Bomb Inspector then proceeds to peal the tape off of our box and look inside to find wires, batteries and a radio. Matt told me he looked a little stunned, but proceeded to use a swab inside of the pod and placed it into the testing machine. Five long seconds later it came up positive again. After looking through all of our gear the Bomb Inspector was satisfied we were not caring explosives and let Matt go back to his gate.

At the gate Matt informed me we had run out of epoxy so he used some glue that was laying around the lab. This glue had one of the chemicals used to detect explosives.

So the moral of the story is use normal epoxy and be kind to TSA when they are asking you questions.