NASA seeks student research experiments

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says it's seeking experiments from U.S. college and university students for high-altitude science research.

NASA officials said their annual project provides near space access for 12 undergraduate and graduate student experiments to be carried by a NASA high-altitude research balloon. The flights typically last 15 to 20 hours and reach an altitude of 23 miles. Experiments may include compact satellites or prototypes.

"The experiments are flown aboard the High Altitude Student Platform, or HASP -- a balloon-born instrument stack launched from the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility's remote site in Fort Sumner, N.M.," NASA said in a statement. "The goals of the project are to provide a space test platform to encourage student research and stimulate the development of student satellite payloads and other space-engineering products."

The project is a joint effort between NASA and the Louisiana Space Grant Consortium.

The balloon can support approximately 200 pounds of student payloads, officials said, noting since 2006, the HASP program has selected 44 payloads for flight, the work of more than 200 students from across the United States.

The deadline for applications is Dec. 18, with next fall targeted for the flight. NASA officials expect to make their selections in January.

Additional information is available at http://laspace.lsu.edu/hasp/Participantinfo.html.