Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project (NEBP)

The Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project (NEBP), supported by NASA's Science Mission Directorate Science Activation program and Space Grant College and Fellowship program, brought together 53 teams from 75 institutions to participate in education, outreach, and high-altitude balloon science surrounding the October 2023 and April 2024 solar eclipses. This project aimed to encourage students to pursue STEM fields by facilitating cutting-edge data collection and analysis experiences for students across the country, especially those who are underrepresented minorities in STEM or first-generation college students. All NEBP teams selected a focus track of either engineering or atmospheric science. 

The Devil Dragon Balloon Team participated in the engineering track, which involved launching one large weather balloon into the stratosphere for each eclipse with a nearly 12-pound payload. The payload included team-specific experiences in addition to experiments provided by NASA.

The Devil Dragon Balloon Team was selected in the fall of 2024 for a second round of funding from the Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project. The continuation of the project is investigated atmospheric radiation and the solar cycle and ran through the 2024-2025 academic year. Over 10 balloons were launched by Devil Dragon Balloon team as part of the NEBP continuation project. Payloads included Geiger counters, cosmic ray detectors, atmospheric condition sensors, and telemetry devices. Faculty leads were Rich Cairncross (Drexel), Christy Love (Drexel), Alissa Sperling (SCH), and Peter Randall (SCH).