Ocean City Science Experiment Finally Reaches Space

Six Ocean City High School students finally saw their science experiment launched into space this weekend.

The students’ experiment was on board the SpaceX rocket that launched from Cape Canaveral early Saturday morning, according to the Ocean City Gazette.

The rocket was carrying supplies for the International Space Station and 16 other experiments. The students watched the launch on NASA TV from their homes, according to the report.

The experiment is designed to gauge the attachment rate of E. coli bacteria to lettuce leaves in microgravity. The hope was that it could be useful in treating infection in astronauts.

The students who worked on the project were seniors Mercy Griffith, Kaitland Wriggin, Lauren Bowersock, Kristina Redmond, Dan Liggi and Alison Miles.

They worked under the direction of teachers Dave Urich, Catherine Georges and Weaver, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Director Mikenzie Helphestine.

It is part of the national Student Spaceflight Experiment program.

It was initially scheduled to launch on Oct. 28 onboard the Antares Rocket. However, the rocket exploded over the Launchpad shortly after takeoff.

No one was injured in the accident.

Scheduled launches were delayed twice more before Saturday’s successful launch.

Video of the launch is attached to this post.