Garden City Middle School students watch their microgravity experiment launch aboard SpaceX mission
On Nov. 4, Garden City Middle School students Anjali Motwani and Tanya Oza, last year’s winners of the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program, saw their microgravity experiment launched into space aboard the SpaceX CRS-31 mission. Their experiment, which focused on the effects of microgravity on Salvia hispanica seeds, was chosen from among 1,859 submissions worldwide by 14,250 students.
Anjali and Tanya were invited to visit the Kennedy Space Center to watch the Nov. 4 9:29 p.m. shuttle launch firsthand from the Banana Creek Launch Viewing Area. The pair saw all parts of the nighttime launch, including the separations, return and landing of the booster in complete darkness.
This opportunity was made possible by special arrangements at the Kennedy Space Center, allowing the students to view the launch outside of normal operating hours.
Congratulations to Anjali, Tanya, their staff mentors — Ms. DeRiso and Dr. Zaferiou — and the Garden City Middle School on this incredible achievement.
Anjali Motwani and Tanya Oza in front of a NASA globe before the boarded the buses to the shuttle launch site.
Tanya and Anjali in front of the countdown clock at the entrance of the Kennedy Space Center.
Anjali and Tanya at the Banana Creek Launch Viewing Site, which was the closest and safest distance to watch the launch.
SSEP National Program Director Dr. Jeff Goldstein with Anjali and Tanya minutes before the launch.
The SpaceX CRS-31 launched into space.