NASA Deploys Jets and Balloons to Study 2026 Solar Eclipse
A total solar eclipse on August 12 will turn the skies over Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain into a scientific research zone. During the event, NASA, the European Space Agency, and university teams will use advanced instruments to study the Sun’s outer atmosphere and its effects on Earth.
The teams will investigate the solar corona, atmospheric changes, and space weather behavior. Additionally, the eclipse will provide researchers with a rare opportunity to collect data that is difficult to obtain under normal conditions.
NASA’s High-Altitude Eclipse Mission
NASA’s WB-57 research jet will fly at 50,000 feet to capture the eclipse from above most atmospheric haze and turbulence. Furthermore, the aircraft will follow the Moon’s shadow across Earth, extending the observation period beyond what ground-based viewers can experience.
The jet carries the SCIFLI Multispectral Airborne Imager system, which includes four synchronized cameras. Therefore, it can capture up to 20 images per second in visible and infrared wavelengths.
While observers on the ground will see the solar corona for about two minutes and 18 seconds, the aircraft will extend the viewing period to nearly three minutes. Moreover, the mission aims to study why the corona reaches temperatures above one million degrees Celsius despite the Sun’s surface being around 6,000°C.
“From our unique perspective on Earth during a total solar eclipse, scientists can study the Sun’s corona in a way we can’t from anywhere else,” said Kelly Korreck, NASA Eclipse Program Manager.
Balloon Research Across Iceland and Spain
Alongside the aircraft mission, NASA-supported teams will launch 80 balloons from Iceland over a 26-hour period. These balloons will examine how the eclipse affects Earth’s boundary layer, the lowest part of the atmosphere near the surface.
Additionally, teams in Spain will deploy six balloons equipped with 360-degree cameras and ozone sensors. These instruments will track changes in atmospheric composition during and after totality.
University students are also participating in the balloon missions through a nationwide eclipse research project. Furthermore, teams from different universities will collaborate to collect atmospheric data during the event.
“This will be an unforgettable experience for the participants and a powerful demonstration of MSU’s world-class capabilities,” said Angela Des Jardins, director of the Montana Space Grant Consortium.
Global Solar Research Efforts
The European Space Agency will also study the eclipse to improve understanding of solar winds and storm activity. Moreover, scientists will compare eclipse observations with data collected by the Solar Orbiter spacecraft, which has been monitoring the Sun since 2020.
“Why do solar storms propagate in this way? What are their structures, and can we develop models that allow us to predict them?” asked Carole Mundell, the ESA’s director of science.
The Ebre Observatory in Catalonia, which has collected solar data since 1904, will serve as a major observation location. Additionally, Spain’s meteorological service will launch radiosondes before, during, and after the eclipse.
NASA will provide live coverage of the total solar eclipse beginning at 11:15 a.m. MDT on August 12.
