Air Force Academy’s Bright Minds to Support Nasa in Eclipse Research

On Monday, many people throughout the world will see a total solar eclipse that will pass through numerous states. A crew of cadets is traveling to Illinois and Texas to assist NASA with research that could be useful for the future of satellites.

According to the Air Force, the United States lost 40 Starlink satellites in 2023 as a result of the interaction of solar winds and the Earth’s magnetic field.

“We’re taking data with the eclipse and studying it so that we can share that with NASA, and so that we can help other people learn about this eclipse,” Quinn Miller, a cadet in the Air Force, said.

In Colorado Springs, we will have partial coverage, approximately 67%. “I missed the 2017 total solar eclipse,” Miller stated.

Cadets like Quin Miller and Ty Stromberg will be viewing this year’s eclipse from the path of totality.

“We’ve been planning this probably since the last eclipse in October,” Stromberg told reporters.

They’re currently packing their equipment as part of a group of cadets from the academy’s Physics and Astronomy Club. They will travel with equipment to study the eclipse and transmit their findings to NASA. All to aid in a study aimed at better understanding the science that may lead to the loss of some satellites.

“It is officer-guided but entirely cadet-run. So we handle all of the details, such as planning and execution,” Stromberg explained.

For a solar event, this might have significant repercussions.

“We have a red filter on our sun telescope and solar filters on the DSLR cameras. Of course, as long as you don’t look directly at the camera or through our equipment, your eyes will be fine,” Stromberg stated.

The peak time here in the springs will be 12:39 p.m., and if you plan on witnessing the eclipse, make sure to wear appropriate eye protection.