Louisiana Space Grant runs a high altitude balloon launch program for testing sensors and have just released the Call for Payloads (CFP) for the September 2022 flight of the High Altitude Student Platform (HASP). HASP can support up to 12 student payloads (providing power, telemetry and commanding) during a flight to an altitude of 122,000 feet for up to 20 hours. The NASA Balloon Program Office, HASP Management Team and the Astrophysics Division of the NASA Science Mission Directorate anticipate flying HASP at least through 2025. There is no cost for launch and flight operations. Student teams will need to raise their own funds to support the development of their payload and, if necessary, for travel to Palestine, TX for HASP integration and Ft. Sumner, NM for flight operations.
Materials for a HASP 2022 student team application include the HASP Call for Payloads 2022, a HASP 2022 NOI form, and the HASP Proposal Template. Details on the payload constraints and interface with HASP as well as online access to the CFP materials can be found on the “Participant Info” page of the HASP website. Details about previous HASP flights and the student payloads flown can be found on the “Flight Information” page of the HASP website.
Applications are due January 07, 2022 and selections will be announced by the end of January 2022. A Notice of Intent (NOI) is required for any team planning to apply for a HASP 2022 seat. Fill out the NOI form once the basic information concerning your payload and student teams are known and submit the NOI to hasp@lsu.edu before November 19, 2021. Contract information is only needed for the student team lead and the faculty advisor. If you have a multiple institution project only the lead institution should submit a NOI and collaborating institutions should be listed on the NOI. The lead institution will be responsible for distributing official HASP information to all project participants.
Louisiana Space Grant will be conducting two Q&A Virtual Meetings this season. The first virtual meeting will be on Friday, November 12, 2021 at 10:00 am (central time) and will be focused on general information concerning HASP and the application process. The second virtual meeting will be on Friday, December 17, 2021 at 10:00 am (central time) and will discuss any questions potential applicants may have while creating their application. Groups who have previously flown on HASP should attend these meetings as there have been a number of changes in the program over the last few years. Both virtual meetings will be conducted over Zoom. If you intend to participate in either of these virtual meetings you need to register here. The zoom link will be sent out to registrants about 1 week before the scheduled meeting.