Skip to main content

ASCEND! Aerospace STEM Challenges to Educate New Discoverers

2026-2027 Important Dates

  • November 13, 2026 - ASCEND PreLaunch Workshop
  • November 14, 2026 - ASCEND Fall Launch
  • April 2, 2027 - ASCEND PreLaunch Workshop
  • April 3, 2027 - ASCEND Spring Launch
  • April 16-17, 2027 - AZ Space Grant Statewide Student Research Symposium in Tempe, AZ

Background

ASCEND! (Aerospace STEM Challenges to Educate New Discoverers) is an Arizona Space Grant Consortium statewide workforce development program that gives students hands-on experience with the full design-build-fly-operate-analyze cycle of a space mission.

Student teams from colleges and universities across Arizona design and build scientific payloads that fly aboard high-altitude weather balloons, reaching altitudes of approximately 100,000 feet. Students collect atmospheric data, capture images of Earth, and analyze their results to study phenomena such as cloud structure, surface features, and the curvature of the Earth.

Participating institutions include The University of Arizona, Arizona State University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Arizona Western College, Glendale Community College, Pima Community College, Central Arizona College, Phoenix College, and Casa Grande Union High School. *We are unable to support additional teams at this time.

ASCEND! complements classroom learning with real-world, hands-on mission experience, giving students the opportunity to take a project from initial design through flight, operations, and data analysis.

Overview: ASCEND Payload Design

Our Flight Partners

AZSGC partners with Arizona Near Space Research (ANSR) for our flight operations. ANSR is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization engaging students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education through hands-on learning with amateur radio and high-altitude ballooning. Since 2001, ANSR has proudly supported over 150 balloon launch opportunities, helping bring real-world learning opportunities to students across the state.

ANSR Website

Payload Design Specifications

The ANSR Payload Design Specification (PDS) outlines the standards and guidelines all payloads must meet to safely and successfully integrate into our launch systems. It covers topics such as payload size, weight limits, power systems, communication interfaces, and flight safety requirements.

By following these requirements, you help ensure your project is compatible with ANSR’s flight hardware, recovery operations, and FAA regulations.

Payload Design Specs (PDF)

PDS Waiver Submission Form

All teams are required to review and follow the payload design specifications. If your design includes any features that extend beyond these specifications, you’ll need to request a waiver for approval. Fall 2026 waiver submissions are due no later than October 16, 2026.

 


 

Waiver Submission Form

An Introduction to ASCEND

Check out former Phoenix College ASCEND student, Paul Ronquillo's, introductory video for ASCEND!

Click here to view video.

DateASCEND! FLT#ANSR Flt#Launch siteAltitude (ft)Notes
03/28/202662162Intersection of AZ-347 and HWY-8482,398Very windy day and difficult recovery near the SE corner of the San Tan Park and Gila Reservation line.
03/28/202661161Intersection of AZ-347 and HWY-8465,553Very windy day resulted in balloon bursting earlier than expected.
12/06/202560158UA Maricopa Ag Center101,260Rescheduled launch from Nov. 22nd due to weather. Easy launch and recovery!
12/06/202559157UA Maricopa Ag Center101,020Rescheduled launch from Nov. 22nd due to weather. Easy launch and recovery!
03/28/202558156Freeman Road exit, Gila Bend87,770Balloon 2 took 2 hours and 26 mins to achieve this altitude.  
03/28/202557155Freeman Road exit, Gila Bend94,620 
11/23/202456154Freeman Road exit, Gila Bend102,000 
11/23/202455153Freeman Road exit, Gila Bend98,000 
5/11/202454152Freeman Road exit, Gila Bend102,964Rescheduled launch from March 23, 2024.
5/11/202453151Freeman Road exit, Gila Bend99,000Rescheduled launch from March 23, 2024.
11/18/202352148Near AZ60 & I-10 Interchange96,906 
11/18/202351147Near AZ60 & I-10 Interchange103,988 
04/01/202350144Near AZ60 & I-10 Interchange Upon filling balloon, ANSR noticed there was a hole in it so we had to fill a new balloon causing a slight delay. Balloon landed near Aguila, AZ in difficult area. ANSR had to retrieve the payloads and then distribute to the ASCEND teams.
04/01/202349143Near AZ60 & I-10 Interchange Balloon landed near Aguila, AZ in difficult area and had to be retrieved by ANSR to be handed off to the ASCEND student teams.
11/19/202248141UA Maricopa Agricultural Center102,272Difficult retrieval; payloads landed quite a ways off road and required a hike to retrieve the payloads from a desert wash.
11/19/202247140UA Maricopa Agricultural Center100,420Upon burst, it appears that pieces of the balloon wrapped around the parachute and prevented it from fully opening. Quick descent and impact at ~55 mph. Payloads felt the impact!
4/02/202246138Freeman Road exit, Gila Bend97,000 
4/02/202245137Freeman Road exit, Gila Bend91,000 
11/20/202144135AZ-85, approx. 12mi S. of Gila Bend102,303ANSR flight-135 climbed at a faster rate than ANSR flight-134. ADSB-B for 135 worked throughout the flight.
11/20/202143134AZ-85, approx. 12mi S. of Gila Bend103,670The landing site was more than 20mi east of the predicted area. The ADS-B for ANSR-134 worked shortly after liftoff but then stopped working.  Upon recovery, it was discovered that the battery in the case had shifted during flight and pulled the power pole connector apart.
3/27/202142132UA Maricopa Agricultural Center  
3/27/202141131UA Maricopa Agricultural Center  
10/24/202040130Gila Bend, AZ Make-up flight for Spring 2020 launch that was canceled due to Covid
11/23/201939129Pinal County, AZ105,8822nd balloon (129) passed first balloon, but 128 went farther down range due to slower ascent rate
11/23/201938128Pinal County, AZ106,9092nd balloon (129) passed first balloon, but 128 went farther down range due to slower ascent rate
11/12/201937127Dine College Campus, Tsaile, AZ101,755 
3/30/201936124Pinal County, AZ91,202onboard data loggers may have captured a slightly higher altitude
3/30/201935123Pinal County, AZ96,819onboard data loggers may have captured a slightly higher altitude
3/26/201934122Dine College campus, Tsaile, AZ 75,927onboard data loggers may have captured a slightly higher altitude
11/17/201833121Maricopa103,218 
11/17/201832120Maricopa106,555 
3/3/201831116Dateland96,400 
3/3/201830115Dateland96,400 
11/17/201729113Gila Bend97,500 
11/17/201728112Gila Bend97,500 
4/1/201727106Maricopa  
4/1/201726105Maricopa  
11/19/201625104Stanfield91,405 
11/19/201624103Stanfield101,692 
4/2/20162398Maricopa94,467 
4/2/20162297Maricopa96,619 
11/21/20152195Maricopa73,640 
11/21/20152094Maricopa78,816 
3/1/20151988W. Pinal Park94,688 
11/1/20141886Maricopa93,483 
3/29/20141781Freeman Exit I-873,794 
11/23/20131678Dateland86,349 
3/23/20131574Maricopa93,000 
11/17/20121471Maricopa97,940 
3/31/20121367Maricopa97,940 
11/19/20111265Quartzsite89,977 
3/26/20111160Gila Bend85,978 
11/20/20101059Quartzsite96,214 
3/27/2010954Gila Bend86,450 
11/21/2009852Gila Bend93,538 
4/4/2009748Gila Bend89,676 
11/22/2008647Goldwater Rng95,867 
4/5/2008543Gila Bend92,209 
11/17/2007441Maricopa99,229 
4/14/2007337Freeman Exit I-892,834 
1/27/2007234Maricopa98,856delayed from 11/6/2006 (Weather)
11/19/2005127Maricopa105,761