Low Cost Instrumentation and Kitesonde Kit

SIMRAN LABORE, Helena Tsigos, Jack Halberstadt, Franklyn Telles, Cornell University

     Abstract Number: 221
     Working Group: Instrumentation and Methods

Abstract
STARDUST (Sensing, Tethering, and Aerosol Retrieval for Dust and Urban Science with Thunderbirds) is an interdisciplinary initiative focused on the development of novel, low-cost instrumentation to democratize environmental data collection and analysis. Central to this effort is the creation of a “Thunderbird” kitesonde kit, an affordable, portable alternative to traditional atmospheric sensing platforms. Designed with community use in mind, the kit integrates modular meteorological and aerosol sensors with a flexible kite-based system capable of sampling airborne dust at varying altitudes.

A key motivation behind STARDUST is to expand access to air quality data, particularly among Indigenous communities and local experts such as firefighters, who can use this information to assess and respond to environmental health threats, ranging from uranium exposure near abandoned mines to wildfire smoke and Valley Fever pathogens. By grounding instrument design in the principles of place-based education (PBE) and Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK), the project invites community co-design, fosters student-led field campaigns, and prioritizes tools that reflect both scientific rigor and local knowledge.

The system’s components, including the kite, aerosol sampler, weather meter, and mounting tools, are selected with strict attention to cost-effectiveness, weight constraints, and operational flexibility. The total cost, estimated at ~$3,400, is a fraction of conventional alternatives such as radiosondes, tethersondes, and LiDARs. Future iterations informed by consultations with professional kite designers and atmospheric researchers will further refine the Thunderbird's usability in real-world field campaigns.

Ultimately, this work aims to bridge the gap between advanced atmospheric science and grassroots environmental stewardship, enabling communities to not only collect their own data but also interpret it in the context of their lived experiences and priorities.