Go for Launch! A Once in a Lifetime Experience
The countdown hit zero, and in the dead of night, I saw a light, an early sunrise, flash across the river. I knew that my experiment’s launch was a success. The light dimmed almost as fast as it appeared, and in that same instant, I looked up and saw my experiment with the stars. The experiment was launched as part of SpaceX’s SpX-33 mission, and it focused on the growth of yellow slime molds in microgravity. I designed this experiment, in a group with three others, during the Go for Launch! Kuiper program in 2024.
The launch date was set at August 24, 2025, at 2:45 AM. My dad and I arrived at the Kennedy Space Visitor Center and we were driven to the Banana Creek viewing area. During the long wait, I felt more and more nervous as I was thinking “what would happen if the launch is delayed?” or “what if I miss the launch?” Thankfully, none of those thoughts came true because after the short felt wait, I saw the engines ignite, as if it were the Sun. I also felt a slight vibration and heard low rumbles that reverberated through the stands. The rocket blasted into the night sky, and soon it was hard to differentiate the rocket from the stars. It felt surreal, my first ever rocket launch, and my first experiment in space, all at once. I was ecstatic, and I wanted to learn more.
Later that day, I returned to the Kennedy Space Visitor Center, to tour each exhibit and learn more about past and future missions. The exhibits were really interesting, and I found a lot of the information to be interesting. Two exhibits really piqued my interest and were very fun: the Gantry at LC-39 and the Shuttle Launch Experience. One of the fi rst attractions I visited was the Gantry at LC-39, which I attended with three other Go for Launch! members. Here, I learned lots of cool information about the launch pads at Cape Canaveral, and I got to see a full scale rocket engine model. Towards the end of my visit, I went to the Shuttle Launch Experience. At this experience, I was walked through the different steps astronauts take before launch, and I even managed to experience a simulated launch.
Because of all of the new experiences I had and the people I met, this day, and the entire three day trip, are going to be memories I will cherish and never forget. I also sincerely hope that many times in the future, I will see more and more of my experiments launched into space and help humanity break into new frontiers.
Written By Stellar Student Shreshta Parthaje
