Why I Sent My Miss America Crown to Space

Okay, almost space. Near space. Above 99% of the Earth's atmosphere worth of space. TECHNICALLY "space" is generally defined as the Kármán Line (~330k ft, 60km), although NASA and the US Military define it as 12 miles below the Kármán Line because 'Murica is a rebel. Or something.

To win my sash and see when I randomly send stuff to the stratosphere in real time (the whole launch was livestreamed on Instagram) make sure you're following me on social media!

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Xyla Foxlin
3727 W. Magnolia Blvd. # 174
Burbank, CA 91505

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MANY MANY MANY THANKS to High Altitude Science for making space science accessible to students and silly YouTubers alike. I highly recommend classrooms try this as a socially distant science activity this spring!

ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL THINGS:
The scientific payload was an RTL SDR radio receiver recording spectrum data from FM broadcast stations as it ascended. This was a collaboration with my friend (and PhD candidate in Electrical Engineering) Kristina Collins, with the goal of submitting a paper to HamSCI eventually. (Collaboration means she did most of the payload and I did most of the get-it-to-the-stratosphere part)

We were able to track the payload in real time all the way to 112,00 feet because we flew an APRS transmitter using my Amateur Radio Callsign. This let anyone following me watch it in real time as well, it even flew over one of my fan's houses! If you plan on launching a weather balloon, I HIGHLY recommend getting your HAM license so you can fly with APRS.

Chapters:
0:00-1:44 Intro
1:45-4:30 Pageant Backstory
4:30-8:08 Balloon Prep and Launch
8:09-11:24 Tracking the Balloon
11:25-13:32 Retreival
13:33-15:56 Flight
15:57-18:16 Data Overview and Ending

[meZeusta]

someone sitting in the middle of Ohio, when all of a sudden a crown falls from the sky. they bend over, pick it up, and gaze up at the sky. They study the crown, gingerly place it on their head and whisper "I have been chosen!"

[ymemag]

I just showed your video to Miss Slovenia! Loved watching it again.

[SwitchAndLever]

Somewhere out there there is a raccoon sporting a glorious crown, presiding over a group of its former peers!

Lovely video Xyla! I can only imagine how crazy exciting that launch and retrieval day must have been!

[ryano]

2031, newly crowned Miss Ohio takes the stage: " When I was 8 years old, I was playing in my grandparent's wheat field when something amazing happened the kickstarted the destiny that brought me to this very stage . . . "

[retro]

So glad the balloon had an appropriate sense of drama & burst in such a cinematic way. Can't believe how emotional it felt watching your reaction to the flight in this. Finally, props for the space theme dress code.

[anthonyfreeman]

I am amazed at how much energy you have in your videos. I haven’t had that much energy since sometime around 1992, in my 40’s. Loved the video. Take care. Anthony

[jolan_tru]

This is pretty inspirational, you're a fantastic role model.

[witcheater]

Really, I do understand the meaning to you of this endeavor. In my world at the age that you are I admit that I did not have a clue... yes, I was clueless. That you got to do this, and then share it to many thousands is awesome. Not so sure, am I, as to why I look forward to your videos, I certainly sure it has nothing to do of the after the fact of knowing that you are from the Cleveland area of Ohio (I being born in Cleveland Heights and raised(?) in Brunswick). You just have some sort of that "you want to know so much more than the stagnation of where you were born within to" attitude. You are actually inspiring me (even though I am as old as I am and you are as young as you are). Thank you women 👍

[inh]

As a parent I’m very interested in sending my kids into space, especially as were in lockdown

[richardcranium]

i'm not sure which is more dazzling - your brains or your beauty(both inside and out)!!! loved the view and that beautiful cobalt sky.

[jonathanfairchild]

I'm a dude and I was inspired by you winning Miss Ohio and besides that your story in general. Like seriously you just decide to casually enter a beauty pageant and win. Science nerd, YouTube influencer, and first Asian Miss Ohio. You were blessed to be a role model and you are killing it! Gonna show this vid to my niece who loves science and wants to be an scientist and astronaut!

[s.k.oelker]

This video made me cry not once but twice. The first was because you're right, you never know what's going to be someone's ticket out. I grew up on a dairy farm in Ohio. My ticket out was science fair and scholarships and college on the east coast, but I did my summer on the Columbiana County Fair's 4-H Royal Court, too. The second time I cried was because the crown's journey is so beautiful, and what a joyous use of APRS. I want to use my ham license for something like this; thanks for inspiring this kid from Ohio. 73!

[doreen]

I found you building a teardrop camper. New subber, here. Your content is amazing! Thank you for taking us on your life's journey. This one was really fun!

[gallimaufry]

As a buckeye, I can say my state suffered a great loss when you left. Keep up the great work!

[gaveintothedarkness]

Xyla has achieved more at her age than many people over an entire life time. I cant wait to see how much you will accomplish as you go through life.

[AllcattleNohat]

I live between 2 airports, and this was giving me a bit of anxiety. Glad to read you actually have to fill out a NOTAM and go somewhere safe to do this. Very cool.

[BeckyStern]

Thanks for the awesome insight and overview of the balloon process! I learned a lot about pageants and also sending things to near space. Awesome video! 👸🏻🛰

[brandeni]

Wow. Amazing. Found your channel through Taufledermaus. As an Asian American myself and an environmental scientist working for an engineering company with a young daughter. I am glad to see you are fighting the trends of our culture with your own style of science geekiness. We nerds rule the world!!!

[callsignkpop]

Another fantastic video!! Its nice to know there are great people like you in the world that my sister can look up to, congrats on the win and congrats on being a totally dope human, thanks Xyla! 😁👍

[robertlang]

I have watch many of your videos today and you are amazingly talented, smart but yet still down to earth even after your crown launch. Keep up the great work that you do.