On July 8, a science project from Henry E. Lackey High School will go where no project from Charles County public schools has gone before into space.

The project, “Physiological Effects of Microgravity on Germination and Growth of Arabidopsis Thaliana,” is one of 11 nationwide that will be conducted by astronauts during the last flight of the Space Shuttle Atlantis.

Members of the Lackey team who created the project are Courtney Buckman, 17, Charles Campbell, 16, Kristin Conyers, 16, Devon Johnson, 18, Christine Kim, 18, Chinyere McKoy-Nwachukwu, 18, Sam Paras, 16, Sydney Scott, 14, Paul Warren, 15, and Deborah Cline, 18. They worked with teachers Lara North and Romulo Gabriel.

Cline said she was “unbelievably excited” about the opportunity.

She said the more she thought about the experiment being selected to go in space the more it sank in that “it's such a part of history. It's breathtaking to think about how much [the team] has accomplished.”

According to a news release from Charles County Public Schools, the team will compare the structural differences between Arabidopsis thaliana, a small flowering plant, germinated on earth and in space, and to isolate the effects of microgravity on germination.

Warren said the team is sending five Arabidopsis thaliana seeds, which will be in a very small well with OASIS, a water-absorbing foam, and a small well with distilled water.

In space, the team is hoping that when the two wells come together the seeds will germinate.

Warren said plant roots grow in the direction of gravity, so plant growth in the near-absence of gravity will be informative about how plants adapt to changes. Also, Warren said the team was curious if the plant would transport water and minerals differently.

While the experiment is being conducted in space, the team will conduct the exact same experiment at the school in Indian Head.

In order to see the exact science of the experiment, Warren said the shuttle experiment and the experiment done on land will be shipped to the University of Richmond where a specialized microscope will be used to determine what took place and what, if any, differences occurred.

“We're going to try and do it as thoroughly as possible,” Warren said, by writing down every little thing they see. With the specialized microscope, Warren said team members will be able to see individual hairs on the plant roots.

Having the experiment sent to space, Warren said, is a “euphoric feeling.” He said the entire experience has been amazing.

James E. Richmond, Charles County Public Schools superintendent, said he is very excited about the opportunity the Lackey students will have.

He said it goes back to the commitment the school system has to provide more math, engineering and robotics opportunities to students.

Richmond said he is happy to see the excitement the students and teachers have regarding the opportunity.

“I'm extremely proud of the students and teachers at Lackey High School,” he said.

According to the release, the experiment is part of a national Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics program called the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program.

Warren said he loves the STEM programs and engineering programs at Lackey and recommends STEM to anyone who has an opportunity to take part in one.

Along with the science experiment going to space, a mission patch designed by Nathan Freeman, a junior at La Plata High School, also will be taken on the last flight.

The school system is working to secure tickets for the students to attend the launch July 8 at Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral in Florida.

gphillips@somdnews.com