Hanover High School’s High-Altitude Ballooning and Engineering Team to Participate in August 12, 2026, Solar Eclipse Research Mission in Iceland

HANOVER, NH – Students from Hanover High School’s High-Altitude Ballooning and Engineering Team will take their learning to new heights this summer as they travel to Iceland to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime scientific opportunity during the total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026. 

The student team is partnering with GeoCamp Iceland, an organization that specializes in field-based STEM learning and customized study tours for students and educators, to design, build, and launch a high-altitude balloon equipped with scientific instruments to collect data during the eclipse. Through this collaboration, Hanover’s High-Altitude Ballooning and Engineering Team will bring its expertise in high-altitude balloon flight and mission design, working with Icelandic teachers and students to build local capacity in eclipse ballooning. Together, they will construct, launch, and recover high-altitude balloon payloads designed to collect data during the eclipse, providing Icelandic students with hands-on experience in every phase of the mission. Flying at the edge of Earth’s atmosphere, the balloon will capture images and measurements that contribute to a broader understanding of atmospheric conditions and solar activity. 

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for our students to apply their engineering and scientific skills in a real-world setting,” said Kevin Lavigne, science teacher and HABET Team Mentor. “Experiences like this bring classroom learning to life and inspire future careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.” 

The August 12, 2026, solar eclipse will provide a unique vantage point in Iceland, where conditions are expected to offer excellent viewing and data collection opportunities. Through their collaboration with GeoCamp, students will work alongside Icelandic educators and field experts while gaining hands-on experience in flight systems, data analysis, and problem-solving under real mission conditions. 

In preparation for the trip, students have been working for months to design payload systems, test equipment, and simulate flight conditions. Their work reflects a strong commitment to innovation, teamwork, and scientific inquiry. 

SAU 70 and the Dresden School District are proud to support opportunities that extend learning beyond the classroom and empower students to explore complex challenges with creativity and confidence. 

To learn more about Hanover’s high-altitude ballooning work, visit the Hanover HABET website: 

https://sites.google.com/hanovernorwichschools.org/hhsnebp/home 

Additional background about the Iceland collaboration can be found in GeoCamp Iceland’s story “Science at the Edge of Space: Hanover Students Prepare an Eclipse Mission to Reykjanes” at: 

https://www.geocamp.is/news/science-at-the-edge-of-space-hanover-students-prepare-an-eclipse-mission-to-reykjanes 

For more information about the High Altitude Ballooning and Engineering Team, contact: Kevin Lavigne, Science Teacher and HABET Team Mentor kevinlavigne@hanovernorwichschools.org