Roswell, Indiana on Easter Sunday

Took Jersey (grand-dog) out for a run this morning and while I was out, took the opportunity to pick up some trash that had blown into the fence row.  I saw some trash in the neighbor's field, and my first thought was - his problem.  But, being an Eagle Scout, Mason, and care-taker of the earth, I stopped and went out to the orange "trash bag."

Upon arrival, I found it to be a parachute - with a balloon attached.  Must be a school project or something.  Too bad I cannot find what was attached to it - the string was broken about ten foot back.  I picked it up anyway.  As I came back to our property, I found another 10' section of rope - then another and it was attached to a box.

The orange is a parachute.  The clearish blob on the left is the remains of the balloon.
30' of rope - and a box.

I picked it up and the first thing I saw was this:

Instructions from the aliens.


The other side of the box.

So it appears as though this is a weather instrument, launched from Davenport, Iowa on 23 NOV 2013 at 5:00 p.m.  If you had to drive to Davenport - it's about 4.5 hours and 280 miles, but that's going N to Chicago and then West.  As the crow flies, it traveled about 180 miles, if it came in a straight line.

Dad and I opened the box up - it measured 4" x 6" and was mostly packing.  It had a battery pack, some wires which we think are antenna, and the instrument.  It also contained a huge envelope to send the whole thing back.

I have to document where and when I found it, but postage is pre-paid.

So this thing launched 5 months ago after the crops were out - wise.  But sat all winter in the field.  Well, Lockheed Martin - you're getting your instrument back - if indeed that's what it truly is...

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