Colorado Air and Space Port|Press Releases & Announcements
Higher Orbits Brings Go For Launch! STEM Experience to Denver, Colorado
Higher Orbits, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring the next generation through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), will bring its acclaimed Go For Launch! program to the Denver area on September 26-27, 2026. The two-day event will be held at the Colorado Air & Space Port in Watkins, Colorado, providing students in grades 8-12 with an unforgettable opportunity to work alongside astronauts and aerospace professionals while exploring careers in the rapidly growing space industry.
The program will run from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day, and participants are required to attend both full days of the event. Registration is available on a pay-what-you-can basis to help ensure every student has the opportunity to participate.
“Colorado is home to one of the nation’s most dynamic aerospace communities, making it an incredible place for students to discover the opportunities available in STEM,” said Michelle Lucas, Founder and CEO of Higher Orbits. “Go For Launch! gives students the chance to learn directly from astronauts and industry professionals while developing the teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills that will prepare them for tomorrow’s workforce.”
Participants will also learn directly from former NASA astronaut Mike “Bueno” Good, a veteran of two Space Shuttle missions who logged more than 25 days in space and completed four spacewalks totaling nearly 30 hours. During his NASA career, Good flew aboard STS-125, the final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, and STS-132, which delivered critical hardware to the International Space Station. His firsthand experience in human spaceflight provides students with a unique opportunity to learn from someone who has helped build humanity’s future in space.
During the two-day event, students will:
- Design a real scientific experiment with the potential to fly to space
- Participate in teamwork and leadership activities
- Learn directly from astronauts and STEM professionals
- Explore careers in aerospace, engineering, and science
- Compete in a Shark Tank-style presentation challenge
Go For Launch! is a multi-day program that engages students in immersive, project-based experiences using space exploration as the catalyst for developing STEM knowledge, leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. Higher Orbits has inspired thousands of students nationwide through hands-on educational experiences that connect classroom learning with real-world careers.
Registration is open to students in grades 8-12, including rising eighth graders and recently graduated seniors. Students must attend the full day on both September 26 and September 27.
More information and registration are available here.
Higher Orbits would like to thank the Colorado Air & Space Port, Advanced Space, Colorado Space Business Roundtable, Adams County, Burns and McDonnell, and its community partners and sponsors for helping make this event possible. We’d also like to thank our supporters including AB Emblems, Uniphi Space Agency, Space Tango, Space Shirts, and AIAA. Together,
these organizations are investing in the next generation of innovators, engineers, scientists, and explorers.
