As part of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) Summer Intern program, four high school interns had the opportunity to conduct experiments in microgravity aboard the ZERO-G parabolic aircraft. the students, part of the SEES Microgravity Research initiative, experienced 11 minutes of weightlessness over 30 parabolas to carry out their research.

The immersive experience was a collaboration between Space for Teachers,the Wisconsin Space Grant consortium,and the International Space Station national laboratory (CASIS). These organizations provided students with industry-aligned training and hands-on experience in aerospace experiment design, testing, and integration.

Meet the 2025 SEES Microgravity Research Team

The following students where selected for the 2025 SEES Microgravity Research Team:

• Charlee Chandler,11th grade,Rehobeth High School (Dothan,AL): Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS) and Vestibular-Ocular Reflex (VOR) in Microgravity
• Aya Elamrani-Zerifi,11th grade,Hereford High School (Parkton,MD): Thermocapillary-Induced Bubble Dynamics
• Lily Myers,12th grade,Eastlake High School (Sammamish,WA): Propellant Slosh Damping Using Polyurethane Foam
• Nathan Scalf 11th grade,Lexington Christian Academy (Lexington,KY): wound Irrigation System for Microgravity

“The students… supported the flight of 12 team-designed experiments integrated into the ZQube platform… Each autonomous experiment includes onboard sensors,cameras…”

These four students were selected from nearly 100 proposals submitted by 2024 SEES interns. They spent months preparing for the flight through mentorship and structured milestones. Their training included proposal development, design reviews, safety assessments, hardware testing, and payload integration, adhering to industry and mission standards.

In addition to their individual experiments, the students supported the flight of 12 team-designed experiments integrated into the ZQube platform, a research carrier co-developed by Twiggs Space Lab, Space for Teachers. The ZQube allows over 150 SEES interns to contribute to microgravity investigations, with each experiment including onboard sensors, cameras, and transparent test chambers for data analysis.

This research opportunity supports the SEES mission to prepare students for careers in aerospace,spaceflight engineering,and scientific research. Through engagement with scientists, mentors, and experts, students gain insight into systems engineering and the technical disciplines needed in the space industry.

the SEES summer intern program is a STEM experience for 10th-11th grade high school students. Interns learn to interpret satellite data while working with scientists and engineers in areas like astronomy, remote sensing, and space geodetic techniques. The program is supported by NASA and is part of NASA’s Science Activation Portfolio.