May 30, 2025
By Anna Dugas, Professor of Physics
NATCHITOCHES – The DemonSats, a student research team from Northwestern State University and the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts, mentored by Professor of Physics Anna Dugas, successfully sent a sounding balloon payload into space on the LaSPACE ACES-72 launch at the NASA Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility in Palestine, Texas.
“The balloon launched near 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 20. The flight and recovery went very smoothly. My team comprised of Northwestern State and LSMSA students were able to recover their payload and all the expected sensor data was recorded successfully,” Dugas said. “In addition to the launch, the DemonSats team gave two presentations, one to provide flight readiness evidence from the pre-flight testing done in the Biological, Applied Electrical Physics (BEAP) lab on NSU’s main campus, and the other a flight data analysis briefing post launch. The team found some compelling data from the newly explored wind sensors that could help future teams further explore the complex air flow dynamics around the ACES sounding balloon strings.”
“It was when I got to NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility (CSBF) that I finally made all of the connections and fully understood the science behind what we were working on. Being able to go to the base and being surrounded by like-minded individuals—students, professors and professionals—made the hard work on our project feel worth it.” said Brett Brady of Lockport, a senior Electrical Engineering Technology major.
The DemonSats wages, supplies and travel are funded by the Louisiana Space Grant Consortium (LaSPACE) under the Louisiana Aerospace Catalyst Experiences for Students (LaACES) fund. The DemonSats have been launching payloads to space since 2020 to train students about autonomous sensing device design and atmospheric/environmental sensing systems. The DemonSats team is a cross-disciplinary team that accepts research-interested students from all of the STEM majors. NSU students who have completed this program have gone om to a STEM-based graduate school, medical school or into technical industry.
“It [DemonSats] provided valuable real-world training, connected me with supportive mentors and peers and helped me discover new academic and professional interests. I’m grateful for the opportunity and excited to continue building on everything I learned through this journey.” said Zaiba Daud of Dhaka, Bangladesh, also a senior Electrical Engineering Technology major.
To view a video of the launch takeoff visit https://go.screenpal.com/watch/cThv2pn6G0l
LaACES student participants awaited FAA clearance to launch.
The ACES-72 balloon filling was done by CBSF flight operators while LaACES student participants held their payloads.
DemonSats team processed data from the flight. Clockwise are Eben Dorris, Maddie Riles, Noah Schleifstein, Kiera Robinson and Brett Brady.
Pictured at the pre-launch initiation are, from left, Brett Brady (NSU), Kiera Robinson, Noah Schleifstein, Eben Dorris and Maddie Riles (LSMSA). Not pictured is Zaiba Daud (NSU).
Preparing for a flight analysis presentation were LSMSA students Kiera Robinson, Maddie Riles, Noah Schleifstein and Eben Dorris and NSU students Brett Brady and Zaiba Daud.
