Cumberland County students will see science projects blast into space

Some lucky Cumberland County STEM students have won a prize that's out of this world. Their science projects will be sent this spring to the International Space Station.

Experiments from 71st Classical Middle, Vanstory Hills Elementary and William H. Owen Elementary schools will be put aboard SpaceX 28 and flown to the International Space Station.

More than 300 students representing 57 teams took part in the 2023 STARward STEM Expo. The challenge: make life in space comfortable and safe for astronauts.

One of the winning experiments will send Frankincense oil to the international space station.

Aubrey Hinteraker, a student at 71st Classical Middle School said, "It helps with mental health, which is like a huge issue for astronauts. It helps with physical health, and is an antiseptic. which means it eliminates bacteria and viruses."

The student winners and their teachers get to travel to John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida to see their experiments blast off.

In July, five Cumberland County teachers will take part in the Space Academy for Educators at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Alabama.