Student's Experiment Soars into Space

The future of space research is set to take a giant leap forward as SpaceX 32 prepares to launch from the Kennedy Space Center. Among those eagerly awaiting the mission's success is Butler University senior Thomas Chandler, who has been working with Dr. Anne Wilson and Redwire Space scientists to investigate whether gold nanospheres come out in the shape they want.

“It would be awesome to see what doors open, what questions we have, and what we can explore in the future,” Wilson said.

"I think it's cool that if we are successful and the gold nanospheres come out in the shape we want, it would be awesome to see what doors open, what questions we have, and what we can explore in the future," Chandler said.

The mission is scheduled to launch at 4:15 a.m. Monday from the Kennedy Space Center, and it holds special significance for Chandler. The experiment aims to investigate the shape of gold nanospheres, small particles of gold used in pharmaceuticals.

“Gold nanospheres are small particles of gold, and the ones that are currently used in pharmaceuticals are tiny,” Wilson said.

This is the third Butler University research project sent to the International Space Station in a year. Previous studies focused on crystal growth and found that some crystals grown in space form differently than those on Earth. This project could lead to more effective medications in smaller doses.

“How can we make it more cost-effective to treat people with their diseases? If you can administer half the dose and achieve the same effect, that's very important, and could result in substantial cost savings being passed on to the consumer,” Wilson said.

The collaboration between Butler University and Redwire Space is a rare opportunity for undergraduate students like Chandler to work on real scientific problems. The all-Indiana team's achievement is a testament to the power of interdisciplinary research and the potential for innovation.

“I love that it is an all-Indiana team that's doing this, and I think anytime that you can have undergraduates working on real scientific problems, it's fantastic for the discipline and for the science that we're doing,” Wilson said.

For Chandler, the experience has been a thrill. "It's going to be weird seeing a rocket launch in a few days, but I'm more than excited to see it happen," he said.