VALPARAISO | A big white balloon floated up into a bright blue sky Saturday morning at Valparaiso University.

It wasn't a birthday celebration, but the launch of a high-altitude research balloon by VU meteorology students Brittni Emery, Brian Lehmann and Kelsey Obenour and physics and astronomy professor Gary Morris.

"There we go," shouted Emery, of Montevideo, Minn., clapping her hands as the balloon took flight. "It's a good day for it -- you can actually see the balloon going up."

VU's balloon was one of 17 launched simultaneously by universities from Minnesota to New York as part of a project that tests an emergency communications system.

Emery said the project would test the balloon network's communication, which might be used in the case of a large-scale disaster in which traditional communications systems on land might fail or be destroyed.

"It's like a floating cell phone tower," Emery said.

VU's balloon carried a pod of instruments that weighed 2 1/2 pounds and could soar as high as 90,000 feet, Emery said.

Students were required to place phone calls to the Federal Aviation Administration in Chicago, South Bend and at the Porter County airport just minutes before launch.

For junior Brian Lehmann, of Portage, Saturday's launch was a first.

"It's been a lot of fun," Lehmann said. "I hope to get more experience with launching and other research opportunities."

Students jumped in a car after the launch to retrieve the balloon and communications equipment, which they predicted would land about 70 miles southeast of Valparaiso. A GPS would help students pinpoint the balloon's exact location.

Emery and her classmates, who plan to be involved in meteorological research after graduation, enjoyed the hands-on project.

"Launching is fun because you're actually doing something rather than sitting at a computer," Emery said.