NPR on Nostr: Research balloons will watch the total solar eclipse from above ========== On April ...
Research balloons will watch the total solar eclipse from above
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On April 8, eclipse day, hundreds of student teams across the country will release hundreds of research balloons to study the atmosphere during the total solar eclipse. The effort, known as the Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project, is backed by NASA and aims to make unique atmospheric measurements that can only be done during an eclipse. The balloons will carry scientific instruments into the path of totality, where the moon completely blocks the sun. The results will provide insights into how heat moves through the atmosphere and could improve predictions of weather and climate change. Over 750 students from 53 teams are participating in the project, which gives students an opportunity to gain real-world experience in aerospace engineering. Balloons are an ideal vehicle for this project as they can drift gently in the eclipse zone for minutes or hours, providing a unique vantage point at altitudes of 75,000 to 80,000 feet. The project also serves as a training ground for students interested in launching rockets and satellites in the future. The launch of the balloons will take place on April 8, and the students are prepared to launch multiple balloons in case of any failures or mishaps.
#SolarEclipse #Nasa #ResearchBalloons #AtmosphericMeasurements #NationwideEclipseBallooningProject #Students #AerospaceEngineering
https://www.npr.org/2024/03/25/1240017029/solar-eclipse-nasa-students-research-balloons-science
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On April 8, eclipse day, hundreds of student teams across the country will release hundreds of research balloons to study the atmosphere during the total solar eclipse. The effort, known as the Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project, is backed by NASA and aims to make unique atmospheric measurements that can only be done during an eclipse. The balloons will carry scientific instruments into the path of totality, where the moon completely blocks the sun. The results will provide insights into how heat moves through the atmosphere and could improve predictions of weather and climate change. Over 750 students from 53 teams are participating in the project, which gives students an opportunity to gain real-world experience in aerospace engineering. Balloons are an ideal vehicle for this project as they can drift gently in the eclipse zone for minutes or hours, providing a unique vantage point at altitudes of 75,000 to 80,000 feet. The project also serves as a training ground for students interested in launching rockets and satellites in the future. The launch of the balloons will take place on April 8, and the students are prepared to launch multiple balloons in case of any failures or mishaps.
#SolarEclipse #Nasa #ResearchBalloons #AtmosphericMeasurements #NationwideEclipseBallooningProject #Students #AerospaceEngineering
https://www.npr.org/2024/03/25/1240017029/solar-eclipse-nasa-students-research-balloons-science