Higher Orbits, a non-profit organization that assists high school students in pursuing careers in STEM, is relaunching its Go For Launch! program in Midland on June 11-12. Higher Orbits will host the event at Abell JH Library, in which the event will be the first of three events throughout the school year, as part of Go For Launch! Midland's Apollo series. The program’s return was announced in a press release on June 3.
According to the release, the first Go For Launch! Midland student experiment launched to the International Space Station in March 2024. The second experiment was selected in April 2024 and is expected to fly in 2025. This Apollo Series will result in the third student experiment that will fly in space.
The return of the Go for Launch! program is through a partnership with the Midland Development Corporation (MDC) and Midland Independent School District (MISD).
"Midland Development Corporation is proud to support Higher Orbits and the Go for Launch! program for another year," said MDC Executive Director Sarah Harris. "With new projects coming from the Midland Spaceport, Go For Launch! works in conjunction to introduce Midland students to the exciting possibilities of the aerospace industry. We're proud of the success that has come from Go for Launch! and we look forward to the continued success of the program.”
According to the release, the program is tailored for students in grades 8-12 and aims to cultivate skills essential for success in the workforce through space-themed activities and mentorship from aerospace professionals. Retired NASA astronaut Jim "JR" Reilly will serve as the astronaut mentor for this event, marking the seventh astronaut Higher Orbits has brought to the Midland community.
"Midland Independent School District is excited to ignite the curiosity and ambition of our students with the 'Go for Launch!' program," said MISD Executive Director Jeff Horner in the release. "This initiative aligns with our strategic plan by fostering innovative learning where students engage in rigorous and relevant experiences, preparing them for meaningful opportunities post-graduation. We're thrilled that series winners will have the extraordinary opportunity to see their experiments launched to the International Space Station and conducted in space by real astronauts!”
Participants have the opportunity to design experiments for potential launch to the International Space Station. The winning team from the Midland Apollo series will collaborate with Space Tango, a Higher Orbits partner, to build and launch their experiment on a future cargo mission.
"We're excited to bring Go For Launch! back to Midland," said Founder and Chief Executive of Higher Orbits Michelle Lucas in the release. "We run this program all across the country, offering kids the opportunity to connect with astronauts and other professionals that they normally wouldn't have access to. We're trying to show them that being a student who loves space and science is not only cool, it opens doors.”
Higher Orbits was founded in 2015 and operated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The organization provides experiential learning opportunities for secondary school students in the field of space exploration, research, and spaceflight. For more information, visit www.higherorbits.org.