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Standing at the Kennedy Space Center’s Banana Creek viewing area on Nov. 4, Mackenzie Guy watched in awe as her research project blasted off toward the International Space Station, marking a milestone in her academic journey that transcended her aviation studies.

Under the guidance of faculty advisor and assistant professor Syed A.M. Shihab, Ph.D., Guy, a sophomore professional pilot major in the Honors College, and fellow College of Aeronautics and Engineering student Jonathan King, a junior aeronautical systems engineering major with an unmanned aircraft systems minor, had their plant growth experiment selected for NASA’s Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP) Mission 18, demonstrating the university’s commitment to providing transformative learning experiences.

The experiment, now orbiting aboard the International Space Station, examines how Pisum Sativum (green pea) roots develop in microgravity. Over the next 21 days, the research will test whether a cotton medium can help support root growth in space – findings that could prove crucial for future space exploration and Earth-based agriculture.

“I do hope this experiment will shed some light on the possibilities of a Mars colonization effort,” said Guy, who traveled to Florida to witness the launch. “Of course, one of the biggest challenges is having the ability to have a sustainable agricultural system. If we can find a solid way to have plant roots grow efficiently, we can improve our space hydroponic systems exponentially.”

For Guy, an aspiring pilot, the project merged her aviation passion with space research. “I am currently pursuing a career to be a pilot which is adjacent to fields associated with space exploration,” she said. “Being able to get this far especially within my first two years of college, it really feels great.”

Kent State Student Witnesses Research Launch to International Space Station

The successful launch of Guy and King’s experiment for SSEP Mission 18 exemplifies how Kent State’s College of Aeronautics and Engineering uniquely blends aeronautics and engineering disciplines while fulfilling its strategic mission of dynamic, experiential learning. As the students conduct parallel ground experiments to compare with their space-based research, this distinctive combination of hands-on opportunities and cross-disciplinary education prepares them to tackle complex challenges at the intersection of aviation, engineering, and space exploration.

Drawing inspiration from her favorite Annie Dillard poem, Guy encourages other students to seize similar opportunities. “Take life by the throat. Grab onto something you are truly passionate about and never let go of it until you are satisfied,” she said. “I would have never made it this far in this process if I didn’t say to myself that it was now or never.”

Watch Mackenzie’s Visit to the Kennedy Space Center: