Our Crowdfunding Groups
We are the Texas Eclipse Ballooning Project.
The Texas Eclipse Balloon Project (TEBP) aims to add to the global understanding of atmospheric conditions during total solar eclipses by designing and implementing a payload system that attaches to a high-altitude balloon. The system aims to achieve the goal of observing changes in atmospheric conditions such as temperature, pressure, wind-field patterns, and gravity wave observation in addition to observing the altitude to which streaming video is reliable. TEBP is a part of the larger National Eclipse Ballooning Project (NEBP) hosted by NASA and the Montana Space Grant Consortium. The NEBP oversaw several university projects in 2017, 2019, and 2020, and they are continuing their mission for the 2023-2024 Great American Eclipses.
What We've Accomplished
In October of 2023, we launched a small tethered-flight to evaluate near-earth changes in conditions during the Annular Eclipse. This was an incredible learning experience as we were able to experiment with the construction of a payload for a high-altitude balloon and learn more about collecting atmospheric data.
Our Plans Moving Forward
Currently, the TEBP is raising funds to construct their new payload system for the April 2024 launch. The new payload system will include an advanced tracker that can be communicated with past 100,000 feet, a new temperature, pressure, and accelerometer sensor, a new recovery system to ensure data recovery, and a new computer to guide the payload in communications concerning tracking and recovery. Additionally, the TEBP will construct a new ground station to communicate with the payload once it is deployed.
We are raising $2,500 to help fund materials, costs of research and development, and testing. A simple donation can help us accomplish our goals in this incredible opportunity to work with NASA and the Montana Space Grant Consortium. With your help, we will be able to complete our acquisition of data in April. Following our flight, we will work closely with other participants in the NEBP to share our findings and publish results. Going forward, we can utilize our results and experiences in designing the payload structure in STEM outreach opportunities with local schools in the Austin area.
Please consider donating to help support the Texas Eclipse Ballooning Project! With your help, we will be able to learn more about our atmosphere and its relationship with solar activity!
In preparation for our launch, contributions will go towards the construction of our ground station and preparing our launch site. Any level of contribution will be greatly appreciated as we prepare for our launch in April.
To reach our altitude goal of 100,000 feet, we need to secure payload sensors and parts that can withstand the brutal conditions of our atmosphere. Donations will go towards securing the parts we need to order for our payload system. You will be listed on our donors section on our website as a token of our thanks!
Fund collected from this fundraiser will help with transportation and travel costs. You will be invited to partake in a Q&A with the team about our launch!
Donations will help with gathering materials to construct the payload housing our sensors will go in. In addition to a thank you on our website, you will receive a thank you note from our team members! Protecting our payload is incredibly important when we launch in April.
WOW! Thanks to your donation, we have fully met our goal and will be able to complete our research in April. Thank you SO much!
