Babelon was the first-generation high-altitude vehicle built by YUAA that launched on February 12, 2011. Unfortunately, the tracking systems failed shortly after launch. Ultimately, the lessons learned from Babelon were implemented into the design on the Horizon, YUAA’s second-generation vehicle.
Babelon housed all of its equipment in a Styrofoam box that was 0.5 inches thick. Styrofoam is an optimal choice for an encasing shell not only because it is both lightweight and sturdy but also because it is an excellent temperature insulator. Moreover, the payload was padded with foam and heated with several handwarmers. A 1500g Kaymont sounding balloon was attached to the top of the aircraft's parachute.
On board systems
Babelon featured a rugged Casio Exilim F1 Camera that took pictures every four seconds. A tiny spy videocamera was positioned downward to record the ascent. A prepaid Boost cell phone loaded with AccuTracking software was used to track the position of the vehicle. However, this tracking solution failed, and Babelon was not recovered.