Engineering teams will launch six high altitude balloons equipped with 360 degree cameras to capture the eclipse shadow from a near space perspective and conduct two data heavy experiments

NASA's Shared Services Center awarded Montana State University a $341,725 cooperative agreement on May 1, 2026, to conduct high-altitude balloon and atmospheric science observations of a 2026 eclipse. The award funds two primary research activities: engineering teams will launch six high-altitude balloons equipped with 360-degree cameras to capture eclipse shadow imagery from near-space altitude, with each balloon carrying up to 6 kilograms of payload and maintaining ground-station communication for tracking and data transmission; atmospheric science teams will collect atmospheric data using 80 GRAW radiosondes carried by small weather balloons to study how the eclipse's cold dark shadow affects the tropopause and planetary boundary layer. The project includes collaboration on outreach efforts with local Spanish schools or STEM organizations. Work is performed in Bozeman, Montana, with a period of performance from May 1, 2026, through April 30, 2027. The award is made under the Science Mission Directorate's Science program (CFDA 43.001), which supports research across astrophysics, Earth science, heliophysics, planetary science, and educational engagement. The National Space Grant Foundation, Inc., serves as sub-grantee on the Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project Eclipse 2026 in Iceland and Spain sub-award.

Each balloon will carry up to 6 KG of payload and maintain communication with ground stations for tracking and data transmission. The teams will also collaborate on outreach efforts with local spanish schools or stem organizations. Atmospheric science teams will study how the eclipse's cold dark shadow affects the tropopause and planetary boundary layer. To do this they will collect atmospheric data using 80 graw radiosondes carried by small weather balloons.