FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 25, 2026
Media Contact:
Alice Carruth
(575) 639-1113
alice@higherorbits.org
Higher Orbits To Host A Student Symposium: Alumni Rendezvous Celebrating 10 Years of Go For Launch!
Higher Orbits will host a multi-day Chicago symposium that reunites alumni, astronauts, and STEM leaders to inspire the next generation of aerospace innovators.
CHICAGO, IL — Higher Orbits, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring students through space-based STEM, leadership, and teamwork programs, will host the first Higher Orbits Student Symposium: Alumni Rendezvous, taking place June 24–27, 2026, in Chicago. The event is part of the organization’s year-long celebration marking the 10th anniversary of Go For Launch! and the milestone 100th Go For Launch! program.
The 3.5-day symposium will bring together Higher Orbits alumni from across the country for networking, lightning talks, mentorship sessions, professional development opportunities, and hands-on experiences with astronauts and aerospace professionals. Veteran NASA astronauts Wendy Lawrence, Kate Rubins, Don Thomas, and Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger will be in attendance, mentoring students and sharing insights from their careers in space exploration.
As commercial spaceflight, advanced manufacturing, satellite technology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, and lunar exploration continue to expand, the demand for a highly skilled and adaptable workforce is growing rapidly. The symposium highlights the increasing importance of space education in preparing students not only for careers in aerospace, but for leadership roles across industries that will drive the emerging space-led global economy.
“Over the past decade, we’ve watched students who first joined Higher Orbits as curious young learners grow into engineers, entrepreneurs, researchers, educators, and leaders,” said Michelle Lucas Founder and CEO of Higher Orbits. “Bringing our alumni together creates opportunities for mentorship, collaboration, and professional growth that extend far beyond a single event. The relationships formed through Higher Orbits help build the kind of connected, adaptable workforce needed to lead in the rapidly evolving space economy.”
Astronaut Don Thomas and Higher Orbits CEO Michelle Lucas help a student in an EVA suit
The symposium will serve as a centerpiece of Higher Orbits’ 10-year anniversary celebration and will lead into additional commemorative events in the Chicagoland area, including a special anniversary celebration on June 27, known as the Stellar Soiree, and the 100th Go For Launch! event on June 29 in Deerfield, Illinois, the same location where the organization hosted its very first Go For Launch! program alongside astronaut Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger.
Since its founding, Higher Orbits has engaged thousands of students across more than 20 states through immersive STEM experiences, astronaut mentorship, leadership development, and hands-on projects, including opportunities for student-designed experiments to launch to the International Space Station.
Organizations and individuals interested in supporting Higher Orbits’ mission can learn more at HigherOrbits.org.
ABOUT HIGHER ORBITS
Higher Orbits is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that uses space to inspire students to pursue STEM fields while building teamwork, leadership, and communication skills. Through immersive, hands-on programs including Go For Launch! and other educational initiatives, Higher Orbits has engaged thousands of students across the country, empowering them to succeed in school, careers, and life. Learn more at HigherOrbits.org.
