Texarkana, TX – November 4, 2024 – A team of innovative students from Texarkana Independent School District (TISD) is poised to make their mark in space as their microgravity experiment is set to launch from Kennedy Space Center aboard SpaceX-31.
The mission will take place from Launch Complex 39A, the historic site of all Apollo lunar missions, sending the experiment 250 miles above Earth for evaluation by astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS).
Each fall, fifth-grade students at Martha and Josh Morriss Mathematics & Engineering Elementary School, along with sixth, seventh, and eighth graders at Texas Middle School enrolled in Science Honors, engage in a rigorous six-week program focused on designing experiments for microgravity environments. The culmination of their efforts leads to proposals that compete for a coveted spot in the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP), a unique initiative that allows students to conduct real science in space.
The experiment set for launch, titled “Will Normal Strength Concrete Keep Its Structure in Microgravity?”, was developed by sixth graders who were previously fifth graders at Morriss. Under the guidance of Mrs. Marie Goodwin, the team—comprised of Lynnley Galloway, Lizzy LaGrone, Isaac Steel, and Cooper Wood—navigated a competitive selection process to earn this extraordinary opportunity.
Dr. Doug Brubaker, Superintendent of Texarkana ISD, expressed pride in the students’ achievement, stating, “It is a huge accomplishment for their experiment to be selected from so many SSEP submissions. This not only highlights their hard work and creativity but also inspires all of our students to dream big and explore the possibilities offered by careers in science, technology, education, and mathematics (STEM). The success of these students powerfully illustrates the idea that you just never know how far your education can take you.”
TISD is one of 37 communities across the United States, Ukraine, and Canada participating in Mission 18 of the SSEP program, which enables students to design and propose actual microgravity experiments to be conducted aboard the ISS.
The SSEP initiative, managed by the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE) and supported by a partnership with Nanoracks LLC and NASA, provides a unique platform for students to engage with space science and engineering, encouraging the next generation of innovators and explorers.
As the countdown to launch begins, excitement builds not only within the Texarkana community but also among students worldwide who aspire to reach for the stars.
SPACE X DETAILS ON LAUNCH
