We Sent a Pupusa to the Edge of Space

On September 2nd, 2017, a group of friends and I launched a pupusa more than 30,000 meters above sea level.

We called the satellite PUPUSAT, and carried out the experiment under the banner: High Altitude Ballooning El Salvador (HAB.SV).

We used a helium-inflated weather balloon equipped with photographic and video gear, temperature sensors, dual GPS trackers, and - of course - a freshly made pupusa. A cheese & beans pupusa, for if you’re wondering.

The balloon was launched from Puerto Barillas, Usulután, and remained airborne for nearly two hours. During the ascent, we captured images of El Salvador’s territory from the stratosphere, including clear views of Bahía de Jiquilisco, the Comalapa Airport, the Río Lempa, and much of the coastal region.

The balloon reached a peak altitude of 30,371 meters, offering a striking view of the Earth’s curvature - nearly three times the cruising altitude of a commercial airplane. Once it expanded to five times its original diameter, the balloon burst, initiating a descent at over 140 km/h. A parachute system slowed its fall, and the capsule landed safely 23 kilometers south of Playa Mizata, La Libertad.

The entire project required extensive research and preparation.

“We were drawn to the idea by the kind of photos you can capture from the upper atmosphere. We just wanted to add a Salvadoran twist.”
- Teofilo Siman

What began as a playful experiment became a symbol of what’s achievable through collaboration, curiosity, and national pride.

Check out the complete flight below:

¡Happy National Pupusa day!

More stories soon.