On Jan. 15, 2021, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched a cosmic ray balloon. This Vernal Equinox Pearl went along for the ride. At the apex of the flight, the pearl floated 111,202 feet above the snow-capped Sierra Nevada of central California, spending two hours in the stratosphere as sensors in the payload measured cosmic rays. After the balloon popped, as planned, the pearl parachuted back to Earth, landing near the peak of Little Mount Inyo on the outskirts of Death Valley National Park. The pearl had a wild ride, and the students got great data for their cosmic ray monitoring program.
 
Measuring 10 mm in diameter, the pearl has an 18K white gold-plated clasp and is suspended from a matching 925 Sterling Silver chain. Each pearl comes with a greeting card showing the pendant in flight and telling the story of its journey to the edge of space.