ABOUT

AFA Europe Chapters are partnering with local high schools to provide students with an opportunity to extend their STEM experience beyond the classroom by way of High Altitude Ballooning (HABing).

The Near Space Challenge invites student teams to design, engineer and integrate atmospheric science experiments into a 15" styrofoam pod which will be launched into near space courtesy of AFA.

All teams will receive a courtesy flight package consisting of a styrofoam pod, two cameras, Rapsberry Pi computer, pod accessories, and a $150 check for experiment supplies.

Teams will submit their completed pods to their AFA chapter who will then conduct the launch and return the pod to the team for data analysis.

Each team is required to develop a team website designed to showcase their project complete with scientific data, engineering journal, debrief video, flight images and more.

AFA Chapter will judge each team's website submission in each of the STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Additional points will be given for project management, web design and video production.

Top three teams in the Challenge will receive placement medals, while the winning team will be awarded the AFA Europe Near Space Cup.

Registration for the 2021 AFAE Near Space Challenge is open through 1 March, 2021.

AFA members wishing to judge, serve as technical mentors or become a member of the flight team, please sign up on the registration page.

For additional questions, please contact Mr. Ken Robinson.