Gallery: Sunrise Soar III

David and Kurt load the old hydrogran tank to exchange for a new one.

For this launch, it was decided that the skirt would be removed from the weather balloon, saving about a pound of weight.

The capsule is seen with early preparations made. Just prior to launch, final preparations will be made to secure and activate the payload.

Filling underway at Texas State University in San Marcos. Regulator troubles have pushed the launch behind schedule.

With filling complete, the line for the capsule is secured.

Jeff hangs on to the balloon while the capsule is closed out.

Final preparations are underway on the capsule. The payload is secured and activated, then the lid is sealed.

A group photo of the launch team: (From left to right) Kurt Johnson, David Gonzales II, Jeff Davis, and Kevin Schmachtenberger.

The team checks GPS fixes from the Boost Mobile and SPOT trackers and compares them to predicted tracks from the night before.

It turns out the capsule has landed on a 9,000 acre ranch in Kendall County, some 40 miles from the launch site. After contacting the land owner, we're escorted to within 0.2 miles of the landing site. Accessing the landing site requires driving down trails and even some off-roading, but the task is made easy with the ranch owner's guidance.

Jeff approaches the capsule, which has landed on a steep slope in a patch of Yucca plants.

No damage is seen and the capsule is retrieved. It was fortunate the capsule landed near trails on the ranch. Soaring temperatures would have made an extended foot search difficult.

(Left to right) Jeff and David chat with the ranch owner, Jack.

The team is led off the ranch by Jack.

Jack bids the team farewell.

Back home, David prepares to open the capsule.

Exactly what we wanted to see: Everything right where we left it.