The Louisiana Aerospace Catalyst Experiences for Students (LaACES) Program runs for a full academic year under the direction of the LaACES Management Team at LSU. During the first semester a series of lectures and hands-on activities help build student skills in basic electronics, sensor interfacing, real-time programming, mechanical development, and project management. The second semester is then devoted to applying these skills to the design, development, fabrication, and flight of a small (~500 gram) balloon payload. Payloads from all student teams are then flown at the end of the academic year under the management of LaSPACE at the NASA Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Palestine, TX. Independent balloon flights by institutions are not permitted under LaACES. Proposed efforts that do not conform to this general model will not be funded. Award funds can be requested up to $12,000; no strict cost-match is required, but some institutional investment will impact our evaluation. Multiple proposals per institution may be submitted, but no more than one proposal per campus will be funded. HBCU’s interested in support for this program should contact the LaSPACE Management team to discuss using our HIS award program to support a more robust version of this project on their campus.
Special note for 2022-23: Teams will also be competing for a one-year funded extension to participate in Solar Eclipse Ballooning activities during the 2023-2024 year.
LaACES Program Website Link: https://laspace.lsu.edu/laaces
Proposal Submissions
• Submit all properly executed proposals via email as fully searchable pdf documents to laspace@lsu.edu by 11:59 pm on Friday, May 20, 2022.
• Important Dates:
Download Link (Word Document): LaSPACE_LaACES_Proposal_Guidelines_2022-2023
Download Link (PDF Document): LaSPACE_LaACES_Proposal_Guidelines_2022-2023