Higher Orbits
Michelle Lucas
(281)451-5343
michelle@higherorbits.org
Higher Orbits Set to Launch Winning Michigan Students’ Research Experiment to the International Space Station!
The winning team of Higher Orbits’ Go For Launch! Michigan Aerospace Manufacturing Association (MAMA) series of events is gearing up to launch their student research experiment to the International Space Station on mission SpaceX-30 in mid-March.
The student team, Team Space Shell 6, created the winning experiment of the Go For Launch! MAMA series in 2022 and will have their design created by partnered payload integration specialists Space Tango to be launched to space inside the SpaceX Dragon capsule.
“Thanks to the opportunity to collaborate with Space Tango, we are able to bring the student’s research questions to life!” said Higher Orbits’ CEO and Founder, Michelle Lucas. “This upcoming launch will be an out of this world inspirational opportunity for the students.”
The students from the winning team, Space Shell 6, are Cierra Aikens, Zahraa Mahmud, Taylor Meilstrup, Siri Olson, Claire Parks, and Evelyn Weber. Their experiment will conduct research on cellular reproduction in yeast while in microgravity.
This student team won the Go For Launch! Sault Ste Marie event in 2022, which was sponsored by the local community, and went on to win the entire MAMA Series.
Kevin St. Onge, Regional STEM Director for the EUPISD, expressed his support for the Higher Orbits program and the students’ achievement saying, "The EUP Higher Orbits Go For Launch! event received tremendous community support from our sponsors, community leaders, and educational partners. This experience has created opportunities and possibilities that have never been realized in our region, and Space Shell 6 is a shining example of the unlimited potential of our younger rural generation. We are excited for Space Shell 6 and are proud that they are representing Michigan!”
This Higher Orbits’ Go For Launch! student experiment flying aboard SpaceX-30 will fly along with 2 other student experiments from the Go For Launch! programs across the country will bring the grand total of experiments sent to space from this program to 20.
About Higher Orbits:
Founded in 2015, Higher Orbits is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization creating an experiential learning lab for secondary school students across the United States, focused on the multi-faceted worlds of space exploration, research, and spaceflight in order to launch the next generation workforce our world desires. www.higherorbits.org/
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