The NASA STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) High School Summer Internship Program had the opportunity to select 4 students to conduct research in microgravity on a Zero-G G-Force One aircraft last year. Many applications were received for the coveted four research positions.
Students would work remotely with their project teachers, scientist, and director of Wisconsin Space Grant prior to the flight, and would then go through the process of Zero-G Research Payload Integration which includes finalizing their ground research, safety mitigation efforts and flight planning.
Congratulations to these four NASA SEES Interns and their projects that flew microgravity on March 8, 2024:
- Londyn Franklin, “Utilizing Polyethylene and Water in Spacesuits as Radiation Shielding Materials for Astronaut Protection“
- Aaron Kingslien, “Repelling the Dust: Advancing Extravehicular Mobility Unit Design Through Comparative Fabric Analysis and Electrostatic Lunar Dust Repulsion“
- Landry McRoy, “Abnormal Cardiovascular Study in Microgravity”
- Zoe Zlatic, “Testing Procter & Gamble’s Water Purification Powder in Micro and Artificial Gravity”
The opportunity for these students to fly was made possible by NASA SEES High School Internship Program and its partnership with Space for Teachers, Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium, the ISS National Laboratory, and the Zero Gravity Corporation, which provide opportunities for middle and high-school teachers to develop and fly small experiments and demonstrations on a parabolic flight. Parabolic flights provide periods of sustained microgravity for testing spaceflight technologies, training astronauts, and performing experiments. The program is funded by the NASA Flight Opportunities Program and by the International Space Station National Laboratory (CASIS).
The SEES High School Summer Intern Program is funded through NASA Cooperative Agreement Notice NNH15ZDA004C and is a part of NASA’s Science Activation Program.