Press Release: November 18, 2024

Colorado Springs, CO – November 18, 2024 – In a remarkable achievement for student-led research, a collaborative experiment from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) and Pikes Peak State College (PPSC) has successfully launched to the International Space Station (ISS). The experiment, titled Calcium Sulfate Crystal Growth in Microgravity, explores innovative applications for crystal development in space, with implications for sustainability in long-term missions and beyond.

The project is part of the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP), an initiative of the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE). The experiment was aboard SpaceX’s Commercial Resupply Service (CRS-31) mission, launched on a Falcon 9 rocket on November 4, 2024, from the historic Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The spacecraft docked with the ISS the following morning, November 5, 2024, at 9:52 AM over Southeast Russia, where the experiment will remain in orbit for four to six weeks.

The ISS launch is the first time UCCS has launched a satellite into orbit in over 20 years and a first for PPSC.
“This is a unique once-in-a-lifetime experience for the students to be able to say, and put on their resumes, that they actually launched their own experiment into space,” says Dr. Lynnane George, faculty sponsor of the project at UCCS.

The student team—UCCS Aerospace Engineering student Luke Davis, UCCS Mechanical Engineering student Noah Grebe, and PPSC Engineering alumni Blake MacDonald— along with UCCS’s Dr. Lynnane George and PPSC’s Dr. McKenna Lovejoy flew to Florida to be present for the launch.

MacDonald, who began working on the project while a student at Pikes Peak State College, had this to say about the experience: “Wow! The planning, preparation, and dedication going up in flames the best way possible.”

Student Noah Grebe added, “There’s no better experience than seeing that in person.”

While in Florida, the team explored NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

So what is next for this team? Upon the experiment’s return, results will be compared to a control experiment conducted at UCCS, potentially paving the way for advancements in crystallography and on-orbit manufacturing. These crystals have wide-ranging applications, from food additives to advanced building materials and sustainable fertilizers. Conducting the experiment in microgravity allows the team to gather insights into crystal growth unattainable on Earth.

“This incredible opportunity for our students to send their experiment to the International Space Station is a testament to the power of collaboration between UCCS and PPSC. Working together, we’re inspiring the next generation to push the boundaries of space research and innovation,” says Dr. McKenna Lovejoy.
The experiment represents one of 37 selected for Mission 18 of SSEP, showcasing the excellence of UCCS and PPSC students on an international stage. Following its completion, the team will present their findings at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., demonstrating the educational and scientific value of their work.

About UCCS
The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) offers a broad range of undergraduate and graduate programs to nearly 12,000 students. Known for innovation and excellence, UCCS fosters a commitment to research, discovery, and community impact.

About Pikes Peak State College (PPSC)
Established in 1968 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Pikes Peak offers associate degrees, certificates in career and technical fields, and a growing number of bachelor's degrees. With four campuses, various off-campus locations, two military education centers, and hundreds of online classes, PPSC serves more than 17,000 students annually.

Press Release: October 24, 2024

Colorado Springs, CO – October 24, 2024 – While Blake MacDonald was a student at Pikes Peak 
State College, he, and two of his friends from UCCS, Noah Grebe and Luke Davis, proved their 
elite innovation and earned the opportunity to have their experiment, "Calcium Sulfate Crystal 
Growth in Microgravity," launched to the International Space Station (ISS). After unforeseen 
delays, their experiment will now be launched in mid-November 2024. Their research focuses 
on growing Calcium Sulfate crystals in microgravity, potentially developing high-quality fertilizers 
that could support long-term space missions.

Selected from a competitive pool of ten proposals and 45 students, the PPSC-UCCS team is one 
of only 37 communities worldwide chosen to participate in the prestigious Student Spaceflight 
Experiments Program (SSEP). The team is investigating how microgravity affects the formation 
of these crystals, which have wide-ranging uses from building materials to food additives and 
fertilizers. If successful, the experiment could pave the way for producing this essential 
substance in orbit, contributing significantly to the future of space exploration.

The experiment is part of SSEP's Mission 18 payload and will be launched aboard a SpaceX 
Falcon 9 Dragon rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida in mid-November. Once 
aboard the ISS, orbiting 250 miles above Earth and traveling at 4.5 miles per second, astronauts 
will operate the experiment for approximately 2-4 weeks.

"This project could completely reshape how we think about growing food in space," said Dr. 
McKenna Lovejoy, Director of Engineering at Pikes Peak State College. "By creating more 
effective fertilizers for astronauts, we can make space missions more sustainable, offering a 
viable solution for long-term food production beyond Earth."

In addition to the science experiment, the program will engage K-12 students in a mission patch 
contest, giving younger students in the local community the opportunity to design a patch for 
the flight. Mission 19 is already underway for another experiment cycle. For more information 
about the experiment or to participate in the mission patch contest, contact McKenna Lovejoy 
at mckenna.lovejoy@pikespeak.edu.

About SSEP
The Student Space Flight Experiments Program [or just “SSEP”] is a program of the National 
Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE) in the U.S. and the Arthur C. Clarke 
Institute for Space Education Internationally. It is enabled through a strategic partnership with 
Nanoracks, LLC, which is working with NASA under a Space Act Agreement as part of the 
utilization of the International Space Station as a National Laboratory.

About Pikes Peak State College (PPSC):
Established in 1968 and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Pikes Peak offers 
associate degrees, certificates in career and technical fields and a growing number of bachelors’ 
degrees. With four campuses, various off-campus locations, two military education centers, and 
hundreds of online classes, PPSC provides access to a quality, affordable and flexible education 
to more than 17,000 students annually with both credit and non-credit classes.