Student Experiments Aboard The Space Shuttle Endeavour

Students' Ambitions Orbiting Above The Atmosphere

While Monday marked the launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour's (STS-134) final mission, the event goes further than the excitement of watching a ship blast off; orbiting beyond earth's atmosphere is also the dreams and aspirations of young student scientists who dared to shoot for the stars.

Through the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP), a STEM education initiative designed to engage students and their teachers in science, classrooms around the United States were challenged to design real experiments to fly in low orbit -- first on the Space Shuttle's final flight, and then on the International Space Station. Out of 447 proposals, 16 experiments designed by students in middle school, high school, and undergraduates at two-year community colleges, were selected to board STS-134.

Visit SSEP's website for a list of all the selected experiments, and view our slide show below to see highlights from some of the top winners:

5 Experiments On Board The Space Shuttle Endeavour

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