Ball Intern Remote Sensing Team (BIRST)
From Concept to Launch
The Ball Intern Remote Sensing Team (BIRST) is an after-hours program that provides Ball Aerospace interns the opportunity to experience the full concept to launch program life cycle. Interns design, construct, test and fly payloads on a variety of flight platforms during their summer internship.
Each year, BIRST provides a fun and social environment for interns to work together on a challenge that they can truly own. This opportunity allows interns to work on skills they might not have a chance to learn otherwise during their 10-week internship. It is not uncommon to see a finance intern soldering or a mechanical engineering intern writing code for their payload.
Each year, BIRST provides a fun and social environment for interns to work together on a challenge that they can truly own. This opportunity allows interns to work on skills they might not have a chance to learn otherwise during their 10-week internship. It is not uncommon to see a finance intern soldering or a mechanical engineering intern writing code for their payload.
History of BIRST
The BIRST program was incepted in 2009 when Ball Aerospace and United Launch Alliance (ULA) partnered. Ball interns developed payloads that flew aboard sport rockets built by ULA interns. In 2016, our interns flew payloads on the Future Heavy rocket which set a world record standing at 51 ft. tall.
In 2017, the BIRST program expanded beyond a single flight platform through the use of high-altitude balloons, provided through Edge of Space Sciences (EOSS).
Initial payloads ranged from inflatable moose heads to solar balloons but have evolved technically over the years to include autonomous UAVs, environmental sensor suites, and spectral imagery.
In 2017, the BIRST program expanded beyond a single flight platform through the use of high-altitude balloons, provided through Edge of Space Sciences (EOSS).
Initial payloads ranged from inflatable moose heads to solar balloons but have evolved technically over the years to include autonomous UAVs, environmental sensor suites, and spectral imagery.
BIRST 2022: Video
BIRST 2021: Video
BIRST 2019: Video
BIRST 2018: Video
Check out 2018's BIRST Interns!
BIRST 2017: Video
Check out 2017's BIRST Interns!
BIRST 2016: Video
Check out 2016's BIRST Interns!
Internships at Ball
Read more about what it is like to be an intern at Ball!
Job Search
Check out what internship positions we have open!