One of those relationships is translating into an opportunity for two rising seniors in UHart’s College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture (CETA). They’ll be heading to Spain to help launch two high-altitude balloons during a total solar eclipse on August 12.
Brianna Montano-Vazquez ’27, a mechanical engineering major, and Javier Serrano ’27, who’s majoring in electromechanical engineering technology, are joining a team of students from the University of Bridgeport. The UHart campus has hosted several test launches in preparation for the main event, and UHart has also helped secure helium.
“You know, when you're a kid, and you're saying, 'I want to be an engineer,' being able to work for NASA — little me would have been so proud of me today seeing me do this,” Serrano told NBC Connecticut.
Javier Serrano ’27, College of Engineering, Technology, and ArchitectureYou know, when you're a kid, and you're saying, 'I want to be an engineer,' being able to work for NASA — little me would have been so proud of me today seeing me do this.
The balloons will carry an ozone sensor and a long-range communications system. Time is of the essence; the students will have only one minute and 46 seconds to launch both payloads.
UHart and UB have worked together many times over the years, and both have had success with eclipse balloon launches in the past. During the 2024 solar eclipse, 13 UHart students and three faculty members launched two balloons from the campus of Southern Illinois University. All the instruments worked as designed and were able to gather a wide range of atmospheric data.