Proxima Centauri Alpha (PCA) is a student-led research organization sponsored by the NIU Department of Physics. Our flagship initiative, Project Ascension Mission 2.0, is a research-grade high-altitude balloon mission scheduled for April 26, 2026. This mission will deploy advanced instrumentation to measure atmospheric pressure, temperature, radiation levels, and magnetic field variations at extreme altitudes exceeding 110,000 feet. 

All hardware is designed to be reusable, enabling sustainable annual research missions. 

Donor support facilitates purchasing of the balloon, parachute, tank of purified helium, and key components such as the ESP32-S3 development board, iMet-4 RSB Radiosonde, RM3100 magnetometer, and LND 712 Geiger-Müller tube. Additionally, support contributes to the acquisition of event space, audio equipment, presentation materials, and so on. In summary, donor support directly enables hands-on scientific research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and leadership development for NIU students for many years to come. This campaign represents both immediate mission impact and long-term institutional value.  

Team members performing last-minute checks of the payload systems and camera setup.

PCA team members preparing the balloon fill with helium and securing the payload prior to launch.

At very high altitudes: Lake Michigan becomes visible in the distance as the payload approaches near-space.