“Anybody from any department can join (HART) and still gain valuable skills, get valuable experience,” said Nonnie Woodruff.

​

But what can people learn from the team, especially if they’re not studying physics? One thing Woodruff learned was how to make hard decisions.

​

While she was on the team, there was a flight with winds that held the car-sized balloon almost horizontally. When launched, they almost lost it multiple times, when it nearly hit a nearby fence and storage shed. She said it was one of the most stressful flights she had and her only reaction was to just lay on the grass and just laugh at all the emotions she felt.

​

In fact, while the wind was whipping and wailing, the other team members were trying to prevent the balloon from popping and snagging on nearby obstacles, which, according to Woodruff, can be dangerous for the people involved if it slips.

​

“It’s not always worth going through that (stress) and putting other people through that just for an experiment or just for a design. You have to look out for yourself and for others.”

​

Looking back, she said they shouldn’t have flown that day. But they did because the team’s lead wasn’t saying anything about her thoughts on it.

​

“It’s really hard making decisions and having to step up and say what’s right when you know it’s the right thing to do, even though it’s hard,” Woodruff said.

​

But, that’s not the only thing she learned from the team. Currently, while she waits to go to graduate school to study astrophysics, she’s an adjunct faculty member in the physics department. Her hope is to work in a planetarium someday and help more people learn about and enjoy the cosmos because, as she said, “The true passion that comes to me is being able to share this with other people.”

​

While on the team, Woodruff was one of the leads, specifically over the balloon. That time as a lead gave her the opportunity to teach others how it all worked and prepare them to take over her responsibilities when she left. She said her time doing that is what really helped prepare her for her current job. And it helped prepare her for her future goals of research and planetarium outreach.

​

But all that experience and practice she got wasn’t even her favorite part. She said she loved being part of everyone’s excitement at the launches like when they find out the balloon can get to about 20 miles in the air.

She said it’s nice because “you’re all a part of something.” Whether you’re learning more about muons in the atmosphere or wanted to test a new program you developed or just want to be a part of a team, you can be part of that something.

​

“Even if you’re not there to do an experiment, you can still be a part of something, meet new people, make friends.”