Science at the Edge of Space: Hanover Students Prepare an Eclipse Mission to Reykjanes

On 12 August 2026, a total solar eclipse will pass across parts of the North Atlantic and Iceland. For scientists, educators, and students alike, a total eclipse is a rare opportunity to observe how sudden changes in sunlight affect the Earth’s atmosphere and environment.

At GeoCamp Iceland and within Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark, we are exploring an exciting collaboration with a student research team from Hanover High School in New Hampshire, USA, who plan to conduct a high-altitude balloon (HAB) research mission during the eclipse.

The project is led by science educator Kevin Lavigne and the Hanover High Altitude Ballooning and Engineering Team (HHS HABET)—a student group that designs, builds, and launches scientific payloads to the edge of space.

This collaboration has already begun to take shape through direct exchange. On 24 February, Ólafur Jón Arnbjörnsson and Arnbjörn Ólafsson from GeoCamp Iceland visited the Hanover team in New Hampshire, meeting with students and gaining first-hand insight into their work, facilities, and approach to hands-on science and engineering. The visit helped lay the groundwork for what is now developing into a shared international project.

From the Classroom to the Edge of Space
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The Hanover students are not just learning about science—they are doing it.

As Kevin Lavigne explains, “The HABET team is a group of students working together to design, build, and launch scientific experiments to the edge of space using high-altitude balloons. What started as a single project has grown into an ongoing programme where students take ownership of meaningful scientific and engineering work.”

At its core, the idea is simple, but powerful: “We want students to do real science. That means solving problems that don’t have easy answers and working as a team toward something ambitious. We want them to see that they are capable of doing work that matters—not someday, but right now.”

This philosophy aligns closely with the approach of GeoCamp Iceland—where learning is grounded in real environments, real data, and real questions.

Real Science, Real Data, Real Responsibility

The students already have extensive experience with high-altitude research, including NASA-supported eclipse campaigns in the United States.

“Students have launched multiple high-altitude balloon flights, designed their own payloads, and collected real scientific data from near space,” Lavigne says. “They’ve worked on atmospheric conditions, radiation, magnetic fields, and cosmic rays—and even presented their work at professional conferences like the American Astronomical Society.”

The balloon payloads themselves are sophisticated systems. They include instruments that measure radiation, magnetic fields, cosmic rays, and environmental conditions, alongside tracking systems and imaging equipment. 

But beyond the technology, the real learning happens in the process.

“It’s hands-on, it’s real, and it requires teamwork,” he explains. “Students aren’t following a script—they’re building something that has to work in a challenging environment. They test, adapt, and figure things out together.”

The Iceland Eclipse Campaign

The proposed Iceland Eclipse Campaign would bring the Hanover team to Reykjanes for a focused field experience centred around the total solar eclipse. The programme combines outreach, preparation, launch, recovery, and data analysis within a short and intensive timeframe. 
Looking ahead to the mission, Lavigne describes the opportunity clearly: “We’ll be traveling to Iceland to work with students and teachers during the total solar eclipse. Together, we plan to launch high-altitude balloons carrying scientific instruments to study how conditions in the atmosphere change during the eclipse.”

One of the most exciting aspects of the project is its collaborative nature.

“The goal is not just to bring our project to Iceland, but to work alongside Icelandic students,” Lavigne says. “That could include preparing payloads, participating in launch operations, and exploring the data together afterward. We want this to feel like a shared experience.”

Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark offers a powerful setting for this collaboration. A landscape shaped by volcanic activity, geothermal energy, and tectonic forces becomes the backdrop for a project that connects Earth systems with space science.

And the ambition goes beyond a single event. “We hope students in Iceland see that science is something they can actively be part of,” he adds. “You don’t have to wait until university to do meaningful work. If this sparks curiosity or confidence, then we’ve done something right.”

Science Beyond Borders

The collaboration is designed to extend well beyond the eclipse itself. The Hanover team is committed to making their data accessible, sharing it with other student teams and researchers. Their work continues through analysis, presentations, and ongoing research after each mission.
“The work doesn’t stop when the balloon lands,” Lavigne explains. “Students analyse the data, share results, and often present their findings. There’s also real potential to continue collaboration—through future projects, shared research, or ongoing communication between students.”

Looking ahead, discussions include the possibility of synchronised weather balloon launches between Iceland and the United States, allowing students to compare atmospheric conditions across the North Atlantic in real time.

Science, Outreach, and Public Engagement

Beyond research, the project has strong outreach ambitions. The Hanover team is keen to engage with local schools and the wider public in Iceland, sharing their work and inviting participation in the science of the eclipse. They have also expressed a strong interest in presenting the project locally and sharing their data openly, creating opportunities for continued collaboration beyond the visit.

This could include student-led presentations, hands-on workshops, and citizen science initiatives such as soundscape recordings during the eclipse. For Lavigne, the most important outcome is not just the experiment itself. “What excites me most is seeing students from different places come together around a shared goal,” he says. “The eclipse gives us a moment, but the collaboration is what really matters.”

Looking Toward August 2026

If plans come together, August 2026 will see students standing on the lava fields of Reykjanes, launching an experiment toward the edge of space as the Moon’s shadow moves across the sky.
For GeoCamp Iceland and Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark, this is exactly what outdoor education should look like: ambitious, collaborative, and grounded in the real world.

And for any student wondering whether they belong in science, the message is simple: “Jump in,” Lavigne says. “You don’t need to have all the answers. What matters is curiosity and a willingness to try.”
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That’s where all good science begins.

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