As a senior in high school with college right around the corner, I’m glad to be able to say I’ve experienced something as great as this so early on in my academic journey.
Around approximately 5 PM on March 21, my team and I witnessed something extraordinary together. We felt the rumble in our bodies of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch as we saw the rocket soar into the sky, fulfilling its journey in a matter of minutes. Sure, you can watch a launch on TV, and you can predict what you’ll see in person, but I can confirm it is impossible to predict what it feels like unless you’re there to experience it firsthand. I am grateful to Higher Orbits and Space Tango for allowing us to launch our very own experiment into space; it still boggles my mind that this tiny fungus has the potential to revolutionize the space frontier!
Backtrack to March 20, around 3 AM (Arizona Time); my team and I were headed to the airport and getting ready for a long day 30,000 feet above the ground. We arrived in Florida at the hotel just in time to check in and meet Michelle, Astronaut Wendy Lawrence, and Team Space Shell 6 at the Space Bar for a team dinner. Although it was quite chilly up there, it was a very warm welcome by the Higher Orbits team. Over dinner, we took a few photos and also discussed the itinerary for the next day: LAUNCH DAY.
Fast forward a few hours, and it's about 7 AM. The hotel room view was breathtaking. The river was glistening as the sun rose. As I looked out the window, I thought about the day that was waiting ahead of us. The rocket would be launching just a few miles ahead of the hotel, (except I’d be much closer). When we arrived at the Kennedy Space Center a few hours later, we had our team photo session in front of the NASA “meatball,” had our little paparazzi moment, showed off our (very cool) team jackets and patches, and headed inside. It was starting to feel more and more real at that point.
As we entered, I couldn’t help but look up at the enormous rockets they had on display. To think I’d be watching one launch in less than a couple of hours was a different type of excitement. About an hour before launch, we headed onto the shuttle that took us to the site of the NASA Vehicle Assembly Building. We were debriefed about the payloads on the spacecraft and soon after, we headed to the balcony for an astonishing showtime. There, we waited and bit our tongues for just a little longer. The intense silence was quite loud until we started to count down from 10, and as each second got closer, I could feel my heart racing a little faster and faster. “3, 2, 1!” My team and I cheered as we watched our hard work pay off and maybe even wiped off a few tears (it was the wind… totally…). Just a few minutes later, we got the chance to hear (and feel) the sonic boom from the landing of the Falcon rocket. Not only did we see a launch but also a landing! I still feel the excitement as I’m writing this as if I’m experiencing the fiery ignition and the thunderous landing for the first time again; I can even feel a smile creeping up on my face!
On our way down from the elevator, I was standing next to some of the Space Tango crew. I had the honor of shaking hands with the remarkable engineers who made our dreams possible and our long waits worthwhile! I still had a huge smile on my face and immense pride that something as crazy as watching a launch up close just happened. The bus ride back to the Kennedy Space Center was just replaying the moments of launch on the balcony, over, and over, and over again… Now all we have to do is wait a bit longer for our data to start rolling in from the International Space Station!
We did it. In the end, it wasn't just NASA and SpaceX who achieved something remarkable that day. It was all of us - the dreamers, the believers, the ones crazy enough to think that launching fungi into space could change the world… (AKA Team 229312)! A very long year of waits and launch delays led up to an unforgettable moment. A moment that launched our dreams into the stars!
I remember when I saw the poster for the Go for Launch, back in March of 2023, and thought, “What are the chances?” I would have never known had I not tried. The greatest takeaway from this experience has to be to believe that something seemingly impossible can be possible. “Shoot for the Moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.” Who knows? Maybe you’ll get the chance to chase your own rocket-fueled dream!
Written by Zahra Ali
