Academy for Science and Design Students Send Experiment into Space

Two eighth-grade students and one ninth-grader from the Academy for Science and Design (ASD) have won a prestigious competition that will send their scientific experiment to the International Space Station in 2025. The announcement was made during a live-streamed event on Wednesday, December 18th, with students across the northeast in attendance.

Seth, Ares, and Nathaniel, collectively known as Team Hydra, developed an experiment with three other New England students to study precipitation effects in microgravity during the Go For Launch! program at Norwich University. Their experiment will examine how aqueous solutions of calcium chloride and sodium carbonate interact in space, with potential applications for water filtration systems both on Earth and in space exploration.

"We just learned about the precipitation effect in our chemistry class," says team member Nathaniel. "We were curious about how this fundamental process might behave differently in microgravity."

For team member Seth, this achievement builds on an already strong foundation in space science. "My Exploring Space Science class at ASD solidified my interest in everything space and expanded my knowledge even further," he explains. The team members note that their experience at ASD has helped prepare them for this challenge, as the school emphasizes rigorous experimental design and encourages students to explore creative solutions to challenges.

The team's choice of name holds special significance beyond its reference to their six-person composition. They drew inspiration from ASD's phoenix mascot, seeing a parallel between the mythological hydra's ability to grow stronger when challenged and the phoenix's power to rise from adversity – a fitting metaphor for their scientific journey.

"When you've already gotten your experiment onto the International Space Station as a ninth-grader, it's thrilling to imagine what these students will achieve during their remaining years at ASD," says Jenn Cava, Director of the Academy for Science and Design. "Perhaps one day, one of them will be up there conducting experiments personally."

Space Tango will construct the team's experiment, which will spend 30 days aboard the International Space Station in 2025. The experiment aims to investigate how the precipitation effect – the separation of aqueous solutions into liquid and solid components – behaves in microgravity conditions. This research could have important implications for water filtration technologies in space exploration.

The students' victory came after a rigorous selection process that included a presentation, detailed proposal, and a comprehensive technical essay. They competed against ten other teams from across the region, emerging as the youngest winners in a competition typically dominated by high school students.

About Go For Launch!
Go For Launch! is a multi-day STEM education program that uses space exploration to inspire student engagement in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM). The program provides students with unique opportunities to work directly with astronauts, space industry professionals, and STEM experts while developing crucial skills in teamwork, leadership, and communication. For more information, go to www.higherorbits.org

About Academy for Science and Design
The Academy for Science and Design (ASD) is a chartered public school located in Nashua, NH, serving students in grades 5-12. ASD provides a rigorous STEM-focused curriculum that emphasizes real-world applications and innovative problem-solving. The school's mission is to engage aspiring young scientists and engineers in a challenging, student-centered academic program that continually promotes inquiry, discovery, and innovation. For more information, go to www.asdnh.org

CONTACT:
Pamela Bailey, (603) 595-4705 or Pamela.Bailey@asdnh.org