Key Facts
- Launch Date
- May 19
- Launch Numbers
- 74th and 75th
- Payloads
- 11
- Participating Teams
- 9 university teams and 1 high school team
- Recovery Location
- Roughly 60 miles north of launch site near Ben Wheeler, Texas
- Program Funding
- NASA's National Space Grant College and Fellowship program
Background
Every spring, students and faculty from across Louisiana gather in the wide-open fields around NASA's Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Palestine, Texas. They bring sensors, laptops, and payloads they have spent months preparing, aiming to send experiments to the edge of space and return with meaningful data.
The Louisiana Aerospace Catalyst Experiences for Students (LaACES) program provides an undergraduate introduction to scientific ballooning. It is funded by NASA's National Space Grant College and Fellowship program and is a statewide program of the Louisiana Space Grant Consortium.
Since its inception, LaACES has supported more than 500 students across 13 higher-education institutions, launching over 60 balloon flights and roughly 135 unique payloads.
Current Situation
Just after dawn on May 19, student-crafted instruments lifted off from the flight line, notching the 74th and 75th launches in a long-running collaboration between the facility and Louisiana Space Grant Consortium. The two flight trains, LACES-74 and LACES-75, marked the start of the program's first launch window.
The 2026 LaACES campaign consisted of 11 payloads designed and built by nine Louisiana university teams — Louisiana State University, Northwestern State, Southeastern Louisiana State, McNeese State, Loyola University, and Southern University — as well as one high school team, St. Joseph's Academy, during the weeklong event.
The teams' scientific objectives included atmospheric science, cosmic ray detection, thermal management, ultraviolet characterization, stratospheric wind analysis, and solar cell performance. The balloons, capable of supporting 7- to 9-pound payloads, ascended to near-space altitudes and were monitored using various communication and tracking systems. Both missions completed their flights successfully and were recovered roughly 60 miles north of the launch site near Ben Wheeler, Texas.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Students supported since inception | More than 500 |
| Higher-education institutions | 13 |
| Balloon flights launched | Over 60 |
| Unique payloads launched | Roughly 135 |
Impacts
Following recovery, student teams analyzed their sensor data and environmental measurements and presented their findings to balloon facility engineers and technicians, along with faculty mentors and peers. This hands-on experience mirrors the operational environment of NASA's broader Scientific Balloon Program.
By placing students in this ecosystem, LaACES acts as a bridge between academic learning and national research operations. Students witness firsthand how scientific experiments are prepared, integrated, launched, tracked, and recovered — experiences that can reshape career paths and open doors to future opportunities within NASA, academia, and aerospace industries.
Program directors Doug Granger and Aaron Ryan oversee the LaACES initiative. Facility personnel provided daily weather briefings, performed helium fills for both latex balloons, and offered launch-line guidance. Hugo Franco, operations manager at the balloon facility, said, "We enjoy being able to support the students' launches here and hope to help them cultivate a love for ballooning."
Future Outlook
Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.
If the program continues its current trajectory, LaACES may expand its reach, potentially involving more institutions and students in scientific ballooning. The success of the 2026 campaign could encourage further investment in student-led aerospace projects.
As NASA advances scientific discovery, programs like LaACES could help ensure a strong pipeline of future innovators. Students who participate may go on to careers in aerospace, academia, or NASA, contributing to future missions.
However, the future of such programs may depend on continued funding and institutional support. If funding remains stable, LaACES could sustain its impact; if not, the number of launches and participants could decline.
Source: NASA
