Astronaut Jim “JR” Reilly, Mission Specialist for STS-89, STS-104, and STS-117, wrote to me in an autograph:
“Krish, believe in your dreams!”
It is often said that we should believe in our dreams and aspirations, no matter how big or small they are, because they do come true one day. Albeit how perfect this may sound, there are certainly quite a few people that do not believe in this mindset. Fortunately, I am not one of those people. I am proud to believe in this motto, and experiences like my trip to the Kennedy Space Center two months ago and the Go For Launch! experience has strengthened my belief in this mindset even more.
Every year, on March 14, I would be assisting at the annual Pi Day STEM Fair at my local elementary school. However, this year was different. On Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at 8:30pm EST, I was not following my tradition. Instead, I was soaking in a once in a lifetime experience: watching the SpaceX CRS-27 rocket launch on the balcony of NASA’s Operating Systems Building, just a few miles away from Launch Complex 39A.
It all started on July 14, 2022. That day proved it all. I was fortunate enough to travel to the Kennedy Space Center as part of the Illinois 4-H in Space Mission Command Team that week to compete in the design of space-related experiments as part of the Go For Launch! contest, hosted by Higher Orbits. There, my multi-state team (consisting of one team member from Florida 4-H, Indiana 4-H, Arizona 4-H), and I did what we thought was daunting and nearly impossible at first: winning. It was a tough competition, but I am proud to be representing Illinois in the winning team. As a result of our win, our project has been launched to the International Space Station on the SpaceX CRS-27 mission. That’s right, what was once a small, rough idea that was developed in a matter of 3 hours is now docked at the International Space Station.
A bit about our experiment, my team and I are investigating the efficiency of spirulina growth under different lighting conditions in space with a goal of feeding astronauts in future expeditions. Frequently cultivated from bodies of water such as lakes, spirulina is an edible biomass of cyanobacteria that helps maintain a healthy immune system. Spirulina is a very good source of protein, something that astronauts frequently lack when they are in space. Just 1 tablespoon of spirulina has 4 grams of protein, demonstrating the immense benefits this dietary supplement could bring to anyone, be it human beings in space or on Earth. Additionally, the supplement assists in the process of producing oxygen.
A bit about our experiment, my team and I are investigating the efficiency of spirulina growth under different lighting conditions in space with a goal of feeding astronauts in future expeditions. Frequently cultivated from bodies of water such as lakes, spirulina is an edible biomass of cyanobacteria that helps maintain a healthy immune system. Spirulina is a very good source of protein, something that astronauts frequently lack when they are in space. Just 1 tablespoon of spirulina has 4 grams of protein, demonstrating the immense benefits this dietary supplement could bring to anyone, be it human beings in space or on Earth. Additionally, the supplement assists in the process of producing oxygen.
Team Space Goats
Without a doubt, I will always characterize my experiences on July 14 as my first footsteps that led to my contribution to March 14’s launch. Calling the rocket launch surreal and magical is an understatement. Words can’t express how dreamy it felt to receive an official VIP guest pass to
watch the launch, as up close as anyone could ever be. Coming from the 4-H program, I have experienced several pivotal moments. Needless to say, though, this has become yet another pivotal moment in not only my 4-H experience, but also in my life. And it's going to stay like that for quite a bit. Nine months ago, I made what I would say one of my biggest accomplishments in all of my life. Last week’s launch was a direct by-product of that.
Not only was I able to experience the launch during my visit last month, but I also received the opportunity to meet with some very significant people that I never thought I would have access to. I was fortunate to receive the opportunity to have lunch with Mark “Forger” Stucky, an American test pilot and commercial astronaut who previously worked for Virgin Galactic and is currently working for Blue Origin, and hear about his experiences and the advice that he had for me as I begin to pursue my own career as an engineer myself. I also got the chance to talk with Dr. Joni Rutter, director of NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, who was leading a space experiment related to refining tissue chip technology for biomedical research use on the ISS. Outside of the trip itself, I am now being asked for interviews with local media about my experience, as well as possibly being featured in a documentary related to the 4-H in Space program.
Krish and Dr. Mark “Forger” Stucky
At this point, there is nothing more I can ask for. I have always loved the concept of space ever since I was young, but never have I ever expected to have my name engraved in space as a way to further advance space research, let alone participate in something like this. And here I am, thanks to 4-H and Higher Orbits, I have just converted a fantasy into a reality.
Although I have just made a significant accomplishment in my life, I am not ending here. Now, I think it is time to give back. I think it is the time to provide other youth the opportunity that I have received, to further expand the horizons of the 4-H in Space initiative in collaboration with Higher Orbits. But it's not just that. I am still going to keep myself going because I feel there is so much more in store for me. People say that the sky's the limit. However, the last nine months helped me to realize that the limits are way, way beyond that.
Krish and Dr. Joni Rutter
Dreams do come true. Two months ago, not just one dream came true, but multiple. I will forever be grateful for the 4-H program and Higher Orbits for empowering students like me in actually accomplishing dreams that are out of this world.
Written by Krish Nangia - Team Member Space Goats
