The NMSU team is also involved in the “Plug-and-Fly” microbiology balloon
opportunity. This payload will help space biosciences researchers at the NASA
Ames Research Center in California understand how microbes behave in nearspace conditions. It is part of a study of the nature of bacteria in the context of
microbial life on Mars or other extreme environments. The project is sponsored by
the NASA Science Mission Directorate and NASA’s Space Grant program.
10.3 EXAMPLES OF CORPORATE EDUCATION PROGRAMS
10.3.1 Raven Aerospace
Raven Aerospace (which was discussed in Chapter 3 and Chapter 5) is a major
corporate supporter of STEM programs for students and is involved in Balloon
Day, Engineering Career Day, and Manufacturing Day.
Fig. 10.5 The NMSU Eclipse Ballooning Project team. Shown is astronomy Ph.D. student Sten Hasselquist (center), chemical engineering student Norann Calhoun (right),
and New Mexico Space Grant Consortium senior research scientist Paulo Oemig (left).
They worked with the ground station equipment in preparation for the launch of the high
altitude balloon as part of the “Great American Eclipse” The ground station enabled the
team to track the balloon and transmit the video feed. Not shown is Krishna Kota, assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering. Photo courtesy of the Las Cruces Sun News
244 Educating the Next Generation
opportunity. This payload will help space biosciences researchers at the NASA
Ames Research Center in California understand how microbes behave in nearspace conditions. It is part of a study of the nature of bacteria in the context of
microbial life on Mars or other extreme environments. The project is sponsored by
the NASA Science Mission Directorate and NASA’s Space Grant program.
10.3 EXAMPLES OF CORPORATE EDUCATION PROGRAMS
10.3.1 Raven Aerospace
Raven Aerospace (which was discussed in Chapter 3 and Chapter 5) is a major
corporate supporter of STEM programs for students and is involved in Balloon
Day, Engineering Career Day, and Manufacturing Day.
Fig. 10.5 The NMSU Eclipse Ballooning Project team. Shown is astronomy Ph.D. student Sten Hasselquist (center), chemical engineering student Norann Calhoun (right),
and New Mexico Space Grant Consortium senior research scientist Paulo Oemig (left).
They worked with the ground station equipment in preparation for the launch of the high
altitude balloon as part of the “Great American Eclipse” The ground station enabled the
team to track the balloon and transmit the video feed. Not shown is Krishna Kota, assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering. Photo courtesy of the Las Cruces Sun News
244 Educating the Next Generation