The NASA carried out the successful launch of its fifth balloon mission of the fall 2024 campaign. The science balloon, part of the HASP 1.0 (High Altitude Student Platform) mission, lifted off from the Columbia Science Balloon Facility at Fort Sumner, New Mexico, remaining in flight for more than 11 hours before landing safely. This project involves the active participation of university students.
Scientific balloon propels student experiments into space
The HASPprogram, in collaboration with the Louisiana Space Grant Consortium, allows up to 12 student-designed payloads to be sent to the edge of space for testing. This platform gives future scientists the opportunity to test their experiments in real-world conditions, simulating the challenges of future space missions.
Teams from several educational institutions participated in this mission, including the University of North Florida, Louisiana State University, and the University of Arizona. In addition, the project included international universities, such as the National University of Engineering in Peru and McMaster University in Canada.
A few days ago, NASA performed a test flight of the extended version of this platform called HASP 2.0. This new edition will be able to support twice as many experiments, increasing the opportunities for more universities from 2025.
The scientific balloon flights have become a key tool in the advancement of academic research. Through them, students can demonstrate the functionality of their devices and experience the extreme conditions of high altitudes.
Follow us on social networks and don’t miss any of our publications!
YouTube LinkedIn Facebook Instagram X
Source and photo: NASA