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Launch HN: Sorcerer (YC S24) – Weather balloons that collect more data

Aug 20, 2024 - news.bensbites.com
Sorcerer, a startup founded by former SpaceX engineers, has launched a fleet of weather balloons that can stay in the stratosphere for weeks at a time, collecting data to improve weather forecasts. The balloons are designed to ascend and descend to different altitudes to catch wind currents that can keep them in the same general area. The data collected by the balloons is used to create AI models that can predict stratospheric conditions, which can then be used to improve weather forecasts. The company's ultimate goal is to reduce the $136 billion in damages caused by severe weather in the US each year.

The balloons are made of polyethylene and weigh about 300 grams. They are equipped with a GPS for tracking and can be steered to an area for easy retrieval at the end of their lifespan. The company is currently focusing on stratospheric forecasts but plans to expand beyond the stratosphere. The startup has already attracted interest from customers and is looking to expand its data and models to improve all types of forecasts, including ground forecasts.

Key takeaways:

  • Sorcerer is a startup that uses high-altitude balloons to collect weather data from the stratosphere, aiming to improve weather forecasting.
  • The balloons are designed to stay in the stratosphere for weeks, using solar power to ascend and descend, collecting data on their way up and down.
  • The company's technology is based on an award-winning technology developed at the University of Oxford for efficient data transfer from remote locations.
  • The startup is currently focusing on stratospheric forecasts but plans to expand beyond the stratosphere, with the ultimate goal of reducing weather-related damages.
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