Back in 2021, I had the privilege of joining a team of incredible young women as part of Higher Orbits' Go For Launch! event in Lakeland, Florida. Over the course of two days, our assignment was to brainstorm, research, and design an experiment that could solve a problem on Earth. We were also tasked with creating a team patch. Projects would be judged, and the winners would move on to compete for a chance to have their experiment conducted on the International Space Station (ISS). Team Andromeda consisted of five highly competitive young women, and needless to say, there was a strong desire to have the best project. The stakes were high, and given my passion for space, I was incredibly excited about this opportunity.
To my surprise and delight, our team ended up winning the competition at the local level with our project on Deinococcus radiodurans, a polyextremophile bacteria known for its contributions to RSV vaccine development. After refining our project and collaborating further, we submitted it for review by a panel of judges and scientists to determine if it would be launched to the ISS. And it WAS! Team Andromeda emerged as the winners of the 2021 Go For Launch! series. It was truly and utterly surreal.
Surreal, that is, until we witnessed our experiment launch in the spring of 2023. Our dream had become a reality.
Now, as a sophomore at Rice University, my experience with Higher Orbits continues to resonate deeply with me. The teamwork, resilience, and problem-solving skills I honed during the Go For Launch! project helped me develop the confidence to pursue my passions and stand firm as a young woman in STEM. For this reason, I am honored to be returning, for the second year in a row, to the AIAA SciTech Conference to speak on a panel about Higher Orbits on Wednesday, January 8th. I am thrilled to advocate for this incredible organization and to encourage education and creativity among youth in achieving ambitious goals. Thank you, Higher Orbits, for allowing me to share my experience with such a transformative program.
Additionally, I will also be attending the AIAA SciTech Conference as an AIAA Rising Star in Aerospace, formerly known as an AIAA Diversity Scholar. This opportunity will allow me to network and connect with remarkable engineers from around the world while deepening my technical knowledge on various pressing aerospace issues. I look forward to making the most of the 2025 SciTech Conference and hope to see you there!
Written by Stellar Student Autumn Pepper Rhodes
