Team Applications
We will launch two balloons, each carrying 5 payloads. We will competitively select 10 teams based on their attention to detail and timelines, thoroughness in their responses, and passion for STEM.
Due date: October 4, 2019
We will need a Notice of Intent from every interested team, to help us plan for the competition. Qualified teams will pass to the proposal submission stage, where they will receive guidance by the ballooning team. Please email ndspacegrant@gmail.com with any Notice of Intent questions.
To prepare for the above online form, the following questions are asked:
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Name of person filling out form
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Email Address
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Teacher's Name
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Phone number
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School Name
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Number of Students on your team
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Grades of team members
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Names of team members
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Please describe your ideas for a payload experiment. This brief description will help us guide your team through a future proposal submission.
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If you want help on ideas, please let us know your favorite subjects or favorite content. (For example: "we love biology, trees, and animals" or "we are really interested in traveling to Mars, astronauts, and human exploration").
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How does your payload idea relate to the NSBC overall theme of celebrating NASA's 60th anniversary?
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Do you have any other comments for the ballooning team? Feel free to list any concerns or requests here!
Due date: Ongoing process; Final submission due by Integration Night
We will need an official NSBC Proposal from every team, to declare your payload experiment. We will consult your proposal throughout the competition while we prepare for flight operations. Very important: the judges will read your proposal before they look at your final products. Make sure you inform the lead NSBC team anytime you make changes to your payload so they can update the judges. Please email ndspacegrant@gmail.com with any proposal questions.
To prepare for the above online form, the following questions are asked:
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Name of person filling out form
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Email Address
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Teacher's Name
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School Name
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Names of team members
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Think of the scientific concept that you are interested in. What is known about it? What is unknown about it? (Pretend you have to explain this to someone in your same grade, but from a different school. What would you tell them?)
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Now that we know the science behind your idea, what are you going to study? How are you going to do this? Why is it important that we do study this?
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How will a balloon launch help your investigation? Could we do this on the ground or in a classroom? Why does your experiment require a trip through the atmosphere?
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What is your control variable for this experiment?
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What is your hypothesis for this experiment?
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Will you be able to test your experiment before the launch? (For example, could you place your experiment in the freezer, run trials, or practice using any sensors ahead of time?)
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How are you going to record your data? Have you considered observing your experiment during the flight? Will you conduct observations on the ground, before and after the launch? Are you planning long-term observations (such as plant growth)?
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How does your experiment fit in with our NSBC theme (NASA's 60th Anniversary)?
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Please upload a sketch or schematic of your proposed payload. (Note: Submitted designs must indicate where the balloon string will run through payloads. Teams must attach clear vinyl tubing (found at Menards, Lowe’s, etc.) in this designated spot. UND launch teams will later pass the string through this tubing. Consider how your payload will oscillate and rotate during flight, when suspended with the string).
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Please upload a sketch or schematic of your proposed payload. (Note: Submitted designs must indicate where the balloon string will run through payloads. UND launch teams will later pass the string through clear tubing near the corners of the box. Consider how your payload will oscillate and rotate during flight, when suspended with the string).
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Please upload a preliminary budget. Include items you expect you will need, the quantity, where you'll find them, and cost. If you are purchasing items from an online site, please include the link.
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Any comments or questions, typed here.