Michael Sibbernsen, lecturer of astronomy, prepares for high-flying science next year during the Aug. 21, 2017, total solar eclipse. Michael and his wife Kendra Sibbernsen with Metropolitan Community College-Omaha manage the NASA-Nebraska High Altitude Balloon program and have more than 50 successful launches and recoveries under their belts. Next year’s total eclipse provides a rare opportunity for these research scientists and their student participants.
NASA, with the help of 55 student teams across the United States, will launch high altitude balloons within the eclipse path of totality. Balloon payloads will not only run a number of scientific experiments, but will also provide live video of the eclipse as viewed from almost 19 miles above Earth.
