With each solar eclipse comes a heightened level of excitement from the masses. These natural phenomena attract the attention of science lovers both young and old and help researchers make new discoveries about the sun, Earth, and our space environment.
For upcoming annular and total eclipses, NASA has implemented a data acquisition and analysis mission for STEM learners through its Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project.
“While this is a scientific endeavor for researchers, the primary goal of this project is outreach and education,” said Ginny Smith, a Ph.D. candidate studying aerospace engineering. “This is a student-run project, and the undergraduates will be gaining valuable experience working on a NASA project as well as taking lead on the planning, testing, and creation of mission protocol and fail safe procedures.”
Virginia Tech is among 50 university teams…
