NASA Students Launch Balloon Experiments to Measure Ozone Over Gulf Coast
Under NASA's Student Airborne Research Program, a group of undergraduates released ozonesonde balloons off the Texas Gulf Coast to collect atmospheric ozone data.
During the final week of NASA's Student Airborne Research Program, a cohort of undergraduate students deployed ozonesonde balloons over the Texas Gulf Coast to record vertical ozone concentrations. The participants, mentored by instrument scientists, university professors and graduate students, handled the chemical preparation of sensor cells, balloon inflation, and real-time data monitoring. The eight-week program assigned each student to a discipline—atmospheric science, oceans, terrestrial ecology, or hydrology—allowing them to gather field data, design research projects and compare findings with NASA satellite missions.
Airborne support came from five research aircraft, including NASA's Gulfstream G-III, GV and C-20A, as well as platforms from Dynamic Aviation and NOAA. After two weeks, the group split, with half traveling to California and the other half to Virginia to continue their investigations. The experience aims to bridge classroom learning with practical field work, fostering the next generation of Earth-system scientists.
Why it matters
The program gives future scientists real-world research experience, strengthening the STEM pipeline and improving atmospheric data collection.
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