WKU News

A team led by Dr. Kerrie McDaniel, Professor in the WKU Department of Biological Sciences, Rico Tyler, retired Master Teacher from WKU SKyTeach, and Liam Seymore, a WKU School of Engineering and Applied Sciences alum, and made up of students from the National STEM Scholars (NSS) program, is sending a research payload into space.

The payload is among over 40 other scientific and research experiments onboard Blue Origin’s next New Shepard flight, NS-35, an uncrewed mission set to launch on Thursday, September 18, which will provide over three minutes of clean microgravity.

The National Stem Cell Foundation partnered with The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science at Western Kentucky University to develop and underwrite the NSS program. The program aims to inspire and empower middle school science teachers to foster innovative ideas and teaching methods, motivating more students to consider careers in science.  The payload aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard craft is just one way that the NSS is part of this process.

The payload includes a set of objects and mechanisms designed to detect changes in gravity throughout the flight. Middle school students will have the opportunity to watch flight video footage, make observations, and draw their own conclusions about where the craft is along its flight path.

This is the fourth payload that the NSS program has sent to space. 

The launch is scheduled for Thursday, September 18, with the launch window opening at 8:00 am CST. The webcast can be viewed on Blue Origin’s website or their YouTube channel and will begin 15 minutes prior to liftoff.