Students from Las Cruces spent two days in September at the Challenger Learning Center to learn about space, microgravity research, and to have an out-of-this-world experience.
Under the direction of CEO Michelle Lucas and retired astronaut Wendy Lawrence, the students, ranging from grade 8-12 from across the Las Cruces Public Schools District, formed teams to compete in a payload design competition. They were given instructions on size and limitations and were asked to develop their own original idea for sending something into space, and for what purpose.