This was my first time visiting The Windy City - Chicago! It is where the first Higher Orbits Go for Launch! started, and before I begin the entire timeline of everything that took place during these five days, the SpaceX Dragon Capsule that flew that first Higher Orbits student experiment is on display at the Museum of Science and Industry! It was incredible to see the Dragon up close!
I have to say, one of the best things about the events is how on-theme everything was. Whether it was the mission patches, the donuts, the decor, or even pizza, whatever the day entailed, there was something that would typically seem ordinary to make it extra special!
There is so much to say about this trip that is exciting, so I will do my best to help you picture the journey across the five days.
This was my first solo trip, but the space family in Chicago made the trip feel like home! I arrived in Chicago at the Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile to get settled and head up to HQ, where I would meet so many familiar faces! It was so great to see Michelle and Alice again, as well as some of the alumni that I’ve met at previous Higher Orbits conferences. We spent the evening meeting everyone and getting warmed up for the fun ahead! We received loads of space merch from Higher Orbits and sponsors, including my favorite: mission patches!! I am proud to say that my work office is now space-themed…
Day 2 consisted of the first conference-style meetup at Salon 61, and during this time, we had the privilege of meeting all of the SpaceKids attending the alumni rendezvous as well as astronauts and speakers of the day. Astronaut Don Thomas was the first astronaut I had ever met, back in 2023, during my first encounter with Higher Orbits at Go for Launch Phoenix, and it was an absolute honor to have been able to meet him again. Alongside Don, astronauts Wendy Lawrence and Dottie Metalf-Lindenburger were also in attendance for the weekend. It was eye-opening to hear from them on various topics that arose throughout, even if it wasn’t space-related! We also heard from NASA food scientist Vickie Kloeris, who also kindly signed a copy of her book, “Space Bites: Reflections of a NASA Food Scientist,” for each of us there! Do astronauts get queso in space because the Higher Orbits crew enjoyed some delightful queso while watching Eileen Collins documentary! Additionally, we heard from Blue Origin Chief Scientist Tara Ruttley, who spoke about what it looks like to move from government, working at NASA, to working in the private sector at Blue Origin. It is interesting to see the space race unfolding and the future of the International Space Station (ISS) by 2030. Throughout the day, we heard from astronauts Don, Wendy, and Dottie, and they had heartfelt, educational, and funny stories to share about their time in space; however, the one thing that stuck with me from their words is how fragile our Earth looks from space. The panel spoke about it being a humbling experience and being in complete awe. Their words and storytelling about seeing Earth from a perspective that a select few can see in person were truly inspiring. There is a future in space tourism, and I’ve decided that if there ever comes a chance to participate in such travel, I would absolutely sign up!
After this conference session had ended, the group headed to The Museum of Ice Cream! There was unlimited ice cream, infinite sugar, a space-themed room, and even a sprinkle pool! Chicago at night is truly a spectacle.
Day 3 entailed another conference-style session at the Museum of Science and Industry, and of course, there were donuts! Blue ones. With sprinkles. During this session, we heard from Journalist Christian Davenport, who also shared with us signed copies of his book “Rocket Dreams,” discussing the rivalry and space race between Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin. During his talk, he mentioned the importance of storytelling and marketing. Christian has also joined ASU at Thunderbird! We also heard from astronaut Kate Rubins and were privileged to hear about her experiences and advancements in space research. She has conducted over 250 experiments on her first mission in space! She was also the first to do DNA sequencing in space! Leslie Haas, the Executive Vice President of Business Development at Voyager Technologies, was also a remarkable individual we heard from, and she spoke about the rapid changes in the industry, especially with startups, as well as maintaining meaningful relationships to advance science. Finally, we engaged in a powerful talk with Rear Admiral Mike Manazir from the U.S. Navy, who gave incredible advice about leadership. He brought up key factors in being an effective leader by empathizing, communicating, and inspiring. You do so by building trust and actively listening. Something he said that especially stuck with me is valuing every person you come across because it helps you be a part of something bigger than yourself. Critically thinking about what you hear from others is one of the best ways to learn about your environment and improve it, and that includes people.
After spending time with our speakers, we headed for a team scavenger hunt around the museum and explored every room that we possibly could, and even got Mold-A-Ramas! We headed back to our conference room and heard more from astronauts Don, Wendy, and Dottie about some comical highlights of their astronaut days, including Don sneaking pizza to space, Wendy having fun with the Russian astronauts for Halloween, and Dottie forgetting she was pranking her crewmates, before the day at the museum ended. We then headed over to Giordano’s for a very crucial Chicago experience: deep-dish pizza.
Day 4 was SkyDeck day! The team walked the Chicago Riverwalk to head over to the Sears Tower. We walked through rooms of Chicago’s architectural and cultural history before making our way up to the 103rd floor for The Ledge. It was incredible, to say the least, and seeing the concrete jungle below was mind-blowing. There were clouds covering buildings… we don’t have that in Arizona. After the SkyDeck, we had the day to ourselves before our soiree that night, so some of us headed to Eataly for lunch and also met with Rick Silber, where we got to hear about his documentary on a climate action trek in Nepal! After lunch, Ava, Wella, and I visited the iconic Bean and headed over to the Art Institute of Chicago, where we encountered some gorgeous art pieces, but also were laughed at by a security guard for our confusion as we headed into the “I hear you” exhibit. The wonders of modern art… We then headed back to get ready for the stellar soiree that night.
The soiree was held at the Henry Crown Space Center, where the Dragon Capsule that flew the first Higher Orbits experiment is on display. We enjoyed great company and great food, and there were amazing speeches by Michelle, Kim, SpaceKids Abi, Leia, and Sophia, and astronauts Dottie, Don, and Wendy! 10 years of collaboration, teamwork, exceptional leadership, and space inspiring is what keeps Higher Orbits going, and it was clear from the beginning that this is worth investing in. You never know how far a small step will take you, and personally, this was with Higher Orbits, taking part in occasional conferences and getting to network and be a part of such a stellar space family! The night was truly a spectacle and on theme, and a few of us even participated in interviews with Rick Silber! It goes to show the countless doors that Higher Orbits opens, and it is an honor to be a part of such out-of-this-world experiences! We took many family photos before heading back together and saying our goodbyes.
Day 5 was departure day, but I took an extra day to explore Chicago and took the Chicago River Architecture Boat Tour with Wella, and it was a refreshing way to end my time in Chicago. The skyline is incredible, and I certainly hope to be back one day.
If you’ve made it this far into the blog, and I know this was a very long one, thank you for taking the time to revisit the journey with me. It was the most incredible five days with Higher Orbits, and I couldn’t be more grateful for what Michelle and the Team have put together. I hope you know, Michelle, that what you’ve built will last a lifetime, and it has created a positive impact beyond expression.
Thank you to the sponsors of Higher Orbits, and a special thank you to my donors, who have made this trip possible for me! You took time out of your day to stop and listen to what Higher Orbits means, and you’ve made another core memory possible. Although anonymous, you hold a special place, and I am eternally grateful for your support! The insights gained from this trip are invaluable, and the memories are irreplaceable, so I thank you again for believing in learning through experiences and connections.
Thank you, Michelle, thank you, Alice, thank you, Higher Orbits crew, thank you, Don, Wendy, and Dottie, thank you, girls on floor 17 - Rachel, Kiera, Bri, Nikhita, and Kenzie, and thank you to everyone who has made this trip special. Your companionship and encouraging words are priceless, and I couldn’t imagine being a part of this without you. THANK YOU!
Written by Zahra Ali
