International Space Station Program
Sending Experiments to Space
The Applied Research and Engineering class creates, from concept to completion, two experiments to send to the International Space Station (ISS) from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Minnehaha Academy is the only school in the Midwest to offer this program (we are one of four schools in the entire nation to offer this program), and ISS students meet weekly with mentors, who are professional engineers, geneticists, and computer programmers as well as two Minnehaha Academy science teachers. Students are also invited to conduct parts of their research in the laboratories of their mentors at the University of Minnesota.
“Minnehaha’s Applied Engineering & Research program offers students two valuable opportunities rarely offered at the High School level,” commented mentor Tom Holman. “Students learn engineering processes and procedures including how to define, design, test and debug complex electrical and mechanical devices. These skills include creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, as well as communication and collaboration.”
“Before taking ISS, I had no idea what I wanted to do in college or what field of study really ‘clicked’ with me. ISS ignited my desire for engineering."
Andrew Johnson, ISS student project leader
