New Go For Launch! Event Manager

Go For Launch! Lexington

Mission Complete!

Help Higher Orbits continue to provide these GO FOR LAUNCH! events. Your donation ensures that our organization continues to excite and educate children about SPACE and STEM!


Presenting Team

Team may be subject to change due to schedules.

A Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School (Navy Exchange Pilot), Astronaut Dominic “Tony” Antonelli accumulated over 3,200 hours in 41 different kinds of aircraft prior to being selected as a pilot by NASA in 2000. In 2009 he piloted his first mission aboard space shuttle Discovery for STS-119, which delivered the final pair of power-generating solar array wings to the International Space Station. During his second flight he piloted space shuttle Atlantis in 2010 for STS-132, the 32nd Shuttle flight to the International Space Station.Across his two space flights, Antonelli has logged a total of 24 days, 3 hours, 57 minutes and 35 seconds in space.

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Michelle Lucas spent 10+ years working at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. First as part of the International Space Station (ISS) Payload Safety Review Panel (PSRP) and then in the Mission Operations Directorate as a Flight Controller in ISS Mission Control and as an Astronaut Instructor in the ISS Daily Operations Group. Additionally, she worked with each of the International Partners (European Space Agency – ESA, Japanese Space Agency – JAXA, and the Russian Space Agency) in the field of Daily Operations, Flight Controller, and Instructor Training. Michelle was part of the Core NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) team for 9 missions where astronauts would carry out analog space missions underwater in the Aquarius habitat. Along the way, Michelle found she has a passion for launching the next generation’s dreams and ambitions. Her passion for inspiring students led to extensive work with other organizations in STEM outreach so she founded the non-profit Higher Orbits to use space to excite and inspire students about STEM, Leadership, Teamwork, and Communication. Michelle is proud to be a Space Camp Alum, AIAA Associate Fellow, and member of the Space Camp Hall of Fame. She believes that collaboration in space and STEM is the key to the stars! Space Inspires!

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Presented in Partnership with: 

Solar System Explorers

Intergalactic Voyagers

Event Location Details

University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY


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