SpaceKids Global, the Florida-based, non-profit established to use space exploration to engage children in STEAM learning, is about to make history. The winners from its inaugural “Making Space For Girls Challenge,” a science competition in partnership with the Girl Scouts of Citrus Council, will have their experiments launched into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket on August 28 at 3:37 AM EDT.
The 2020 Mission Challenge to the International Space Station inaugural competition invited Girl Scouts from around the country to participate. A total of 680 girls from 95 councils, 46 states, two territories and two countries registered for this exciting opportunity. The 24 winners from 12 cities include science experiments, art designs and essays for each program level. The science experiments will be included in a Faraday box aboard SpaceX headed for the International Space Station, with the art designs and essays will be included in a media package.
“This program partnership presented a remarkable opportunity for our girls. As a major provider of STEM education, we know unique experiences, such as this, fuel imagination and inspire our girls reach for their dreams,” stated Maryann Barry, CEO of Girl Scouts of Citrus Council.
The Making Space for Girls Program is a partnership of SpaceKids Global and Girl Scouts of Citrus Council, with the support of ProXops and the International Space Station. The mission utilized the ProXops Faraday Research Facility in Partnership with L2 Solutions for integration and operation.
“I was stunned to learn that the United States has nearly 3.5 million STEM jobs that need to be staffed by 2025. This program will hopefully engage and inspire more young students to pursue careers in space exploration and technology” said Hagle, who noted that collaborating with Girl Scouts Citrus Council in Central Florida was a wonderfully effective way to reach girls around the globe. Hagle, who with her husband, is a future astronaut scheduled for the Virgin Galactic space flights, found a kindred spirit with Maryann Barry, CEO of the Citrus Council of Girl Scouts. Since childhood, Barry has had a deep love of space exploration and is also a confirmed future astronaut with Virgin Galactic.
Hagle said that the recent launches by both Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin have an unprecedented opportunity to make space travel for all a reality.
Participating Girl Scouts from around the country and their families will gather on Cocoa Beach at 3:37 AM EDT on Saturday, August 29 for a pajama party to watch their ideas launch into space.