Attending a local Go For Launch! event in Nogales, Arizona, was a turning point in my interest in science and space and one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had so far. Though the event lasted just a few days, it continues to inspire me to challenge myself, experience interesting careers, and apply what I learned to benefit humanity through space exploration. During COVID, I became increasingly interested in space, specifically astrophysics and phenomena that occur in and out of our universe. Higher Orbits Go For Launch! gave me the chance to design a real experiment that would actually be sent to space and studied by astronauts. I am incredibly grateful to be a part of this program and can’t wait to see where it will take me.
My name is Alexis Simon, and I’m currently a sophomore in high school. In eighth grade, I attended a Higher Orbits Go For Launch! event, where I met NASA astronaut Don Thomas and spent two exciting days learning about several interesting space-related topics. It was incredible to realize that something I designed would be launched into space and that I’d have the chance to watch it happen. This opportunity meant even more to me because I’ve always been passionate not only about space, but about sustainability, the environment, and genetics. I was surprised and excited to see how different scientific fields could be combined to create something meaningful.
The event began with a welcome from the program’s founder, Michelle Lucas. From there, we took part in a variety of hands-on activities, including engineering challenges using everyday materials and programming small robots to learn coding concepts. The activities were one of my favorite parts of being at Go For Launch!, as I love learning by using my hands.
Meeting Don Thomas, who flew on multiple NASA missions, was definitely an exciting highlight. Speaking with him gave me real insight into the world of space exploration and expanded my understanding of what is possible.
Throughout our time there, we split into teams, where we used each individual’s strengths to collaborate at the event. We also designed a team patch and listened to several presentations. Our team, Team Icarus, designed an experiment to study the growth of legumes in microgravity and explore ways to optimize their growth in limited space to keep it sustainable. Presenting our experiment to a panel that included NASA representatives was an incredible experience. When Team Icarus was announced as the winner whose experiment would be sent to space, I was overwhelmed with excitement. Designing the experiment challenged us to carefully consider scientific constraints like limited space, differences in gravity, and material choices, and pushed us to apply concepts from biology and physics in a practical way.
Written by Stellar Student, Alexis Simon, Team Icarus, Winners of Go For Launch! Nogales 2024
