On a scenic plateau overlooking the Yellowstone River, a dedicated group of students, faculty, and staff from Montana State University (MSU) and the Montana Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) embarked on an exciting mission. Their goal was to launch scientific experiments into near-space, reaching altitudes of 100,000 feet above the Livingston airport runway. These hands-on summer projects offer Montana students invaluable real-world scientific experience, bolstering their resumes and equipping them for future careers in STEM fields.
The Balloon Outreach, Research, Exploration and Landscape Imaging System (BOREALIS) Project, a key initiative of the MSGC, played a central role in this endeavor. The team equipped their payload with temperature and pressure sensors, cameras, and a sophisticated "command center" to manage parachute deployment and transmit GPS coordinates. Under the expert guidance of Berk Knighton, the BOREALIS flight director, nine undergraduate interns, including three from Tribal Colleges and one high school student, dedicated 10 weeks to designing and constructing experiments for multiple balloon flights.
"This opportunity allows students to actively engage in scientific exploration," explained Randy Larimer, deputy director of the MSU BOREALIS team. "It's a practical experience that prepares them for future careers in STEM disciplines: science, technology, engineering, and math."
Empowering Women in Engineering
A second group of six undergraduate female engineering students participated in a program focused on developing technology for exploration, such as rockets and satellites. As part of the NASA Exploration System Mission Directorate Higher Education Project, they spent eight weeks designing a component of the payload carried by the BOREALIS balloon.
"For many of these women, it's their first experience working on an interdisciplinary team, a crucial skill for their future careers," noted Brock LaMeres, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering and principal investigator on the NASA project.
The ESMD payload featured a radiation sensor developed at MSU, contributing to research efforts aimed at building fault-tolerant aerospace computers. The students designed a container for the sensor, developed a computer program, and devised a power solution for the flight's duration. The payload needed to operate in extreme temperatures and weigh less than six pounds.
Building Skills and Networks
The ESMD program's mission is to involve universities in NASA research and engage underrepresented groups, such as women, in STEM. "I gained significant insights into embedded systems at a hardware level through this project," shared Stephani Schielke, an MSU computer science senior. "Collaborating with an interdisciplinary team of women has been an incredible experience, and I now have a deeper understanding of other majors."
As part of the ESMD summer experience, participants engaged in a role model series, meeting with professional women, including MSU Provost Martha Potvin and MSU President Waded Cruzado, to learn about their career journeys.
The Launch
At the Livingston airport, the teams successfully launched the balloon, with the payload boxes suspended below. As the balloon ascended into the atmosphere, it expanded to approximately 40 feet, remaining visible even at 100,000 feet. After nearly two hours, the balloon burst, and the parachute deployed, safely returning the payload to Earth near Sweet Grass Creek.
"It was an incredible experience to build something tangible, rather than just reading about it," expressed Katie Schipf, a senior in mechanical engineering. "Seeing it in action was truly rewarding."