Insights from and future directions for a nationwide science and engineering education collaboration in stratospheric ballooning

The Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project (NEBP) engaged 53 teams of students from across the United States to fly experiments on high-altitude balloons for the 2023 annular and 2024 total solar eclipses. By many measures, NEBP was a successful project. However, the teams did encounter challenges. To better understand what could be improved for similar future projects, this study engaged project partners in examining strengths, challenges, and recommendations across four topics: project structure, education and research approach, broadening participation, and funding. Analysis of the topics was completed through written comments followed by remote focus group discussions. The project director and evaluator then synthesized the written and focus group comments to provide the results shared here. Identified strengths included a project structure facilitating regional-scale collaboration within a national network and a focus on providing undergraduate students with innovative, mission-based experiences. Partners also identified challenges including, for example, making in-depth engagement with analyzing project data and drawing scientific conclusions accessible to undergraduate students. Key recommendations include the need for real-world interdisciplinarity, a leadership group that reflects team types, a robust communication platform used at all levels, a modular approach for participation levels and time lengths, and flexibility in funding choices.

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Publication Details

Journal
Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
Published
2026-01-02
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fspas.2025.1659329
Primary Topic
Aerospace Engineering and Energy Systems
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Insights from and future directions for a nationwide science and engineering education collaboration in stratospheric ballooning

Christopher L. Lee, D. Snowden, Edgar A. Bering, James Flaten et al.
Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
Aerospace Engineering and Energy Systems
article

Insights from and future directions for a nationwide science and engineering education collaboration in stratospheric ballooning

Christopher L. Lee, D. Snowden, Edgar A. Bering, James Flaten, Katelyn A. Barber, Beth A. Covitt, Wookwon Lee, Erick Agrimson, Suzanne Smith, Sean Bailey, D. J. Pawlowski, Eric P. Kelsey, Jeffrey Freedman, H. W. Kim, Justin R. Minder, Paul E. Slaboch, Jason Ash, Montana Etten‐Bohm, Jared W. Marquis, Matthew T. Bernards, N. B. Conklin, Alissa Sperling, Jani M. Pallis, Jason Ruszkowski, Mike Bastidas, Anthony Choi, T. G. Sharp, Chong Qiu, Angela C. Des Jardins, William F. Finney, Jacqueline K. Q. Do, Joanna H. Rivers, Jillian B. Schmidt, Rachel H. Humphrey
article en

Abstract

The Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project (NEBP) engaged 53 teams of students from across the United States to fly experiments on high-altitude balloons for the 2023 annular and 2024 total solar eclipses. By many measures, NEBP was a successful project. However, the teams did encounter challenges. To better understand what could be improved for similar future projects, this study engaged project partners in examining strengths, challenges, and recommendations across four topics: project structure, education and research approach, broadening participation, and funding. Analysis of the topics was completed through written comments followed by remote focus group discussions. The project director and evaluator then synthesized the written and focus group comments to provide the results shared here. Identified strengths included a project structure facilitating regional-scale collaboration within a national network and a focus on providing undergraduate students with innovative, mission-based experiences. Partners also identified challenges including, for example, making in-depth engagement with analyzing project data and drawing scientific conclusions accessible to undergraduate students. Key recommendations include the need for real-world interdisciplinarity, a leadership group that reflects team types, a robust communication platform used at all levels, a modular approach for participation levels and time lengths, and flexibility in funding choices.

Frontiers in Astronomy and Space SciencesVol. 12
University of Minnesota (US), Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering (US), Eastern Michigan University (US), St. Catherine University (US), University of Kentucky (US), Mercer University (US), University of Bridgeport (US), University of Idaho (US), University of Hartford (US), St. Cloud State University (US), South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (US), Chestnut Hill College (US), Missouri University of Science and Technology (US), Montana State University (US), University of North Dakota (US), Central Wyoming College (US), Central Washington University (US), University at Albany, State University of New York (US), University of New Haven (US), Twin Cities Orthopedics (US), State University of New York at Oswego (US), University of Houston (US), Arizona State University (US), University of Montana (US), Delgado Community College (US), Plymouth State University (US), Gannon University (US)
Partnerships for the goals
Openalex Percentile: Top 99%
Aerospace Engineering and Energy Systems
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