Lafayette STEM Students Working On International Space Station Project

Students from the David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy have been chosen as 1 out of 11 schools in the world to participate in developing a science experiment to be conducted on the International Space Station (ISS).

These students are working with students from Finland, Indonesia, California, Oregon, North Carolina, and Minnesota to design and test the experiement and develop the necessary circuitry and programming needed to autonomously test the science project or MicroLab in micro-gravity on the ISS. The experiment is designed to determine effective ways to kill bacteria that make the ISS crew ill while in space.

According to NASA specifications, the Microlab will be launched via a Spacex Rocket next April, dock with the ISS, where it will remain for 30 days. During this time, the Microlab will receive and analyze continous data. These science projects are completely autonomous, computer controlled science experiments designed and developed entirely by the David Thibodaux STEM students under the direction of their coaches.

A special launch event is being planned for sometime in January or February at the LITE Center.

Anyone interested in assisting with the project is encouraged to call Nicolette Darjean at 337-351-3470 or via email: nmdarjean@lpssonline.com .