Today is a big day for students at Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology in Fairfax County, Virginia. The science projects they designed are now in outer space.

A satellite built by young academics launched from the International Space Station early Thursday morning.

Students there are familiar with the mantra “Aim for the stars”, and students who are part of the space program are constantly brainstorming ways to advance scientific research into space.

Their latest project is based on the thoughts of a former TJHS student.

“The first thing they wanted to do was send us a little radio module and test if it worked,” says Nikhil K., project manager at TJ Reverb.

A current student decided to expand on that question. Their mission allows them to create an improved satellite radio.

It is hoped that students will be able to communicate with the space station while the device is in space.

“Because the radio communicates with a satellite constellation instead of a ground station, it consumes significantly less power than a traditional radio,” said Alan H., another student who participated in the project.

The radio they designed and built launched from the ISS on Thursday morning. Their curiosity and dedication have led to NASA partnerships and grants, not to mention unforgettable experiences.

“The fact that we are making in high school [the satellite] And sending it into space will be a motivation not only for us, but also for other high school students across the country and other groups trying to reach this point.

And this is just the beginning of the program, which has its sights set on the next space mission and training the next generation of engineers.

“We really tried to put the program together,” says Kristen Cucco, director of the robotics lab at the school. You get the chance to experience what it’s like.”