iLEAD Lancaster’s DreamUp to Space Launch Team Salix alba

My name is Esteban Badillo. I’m in 7th grade at iLEAD Lancaster. Our launch team name is Salix alba (Willow Tree). Our experiment goal is to see how a willow tree will germinate in microgravity and how it can benefit space exploration. I decided to create a DreamUp to Space proposal and joined the launch team because I wanted to be part of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and share the experience with my friends who are also part of the team. I’m interested in games and coding. I like how coding works. I also enjoy engineering and building things. I enjoy learning and discovering how things work. Another thing that brings me joy is cooking and learning new recipes.

Hello! My name is Orion Grier, and I am in 7th grade. I am glad that my team (Salix alba) have gotten the opportunity to send something to space. Our experiment’s goal is to help alleviate astronauts’ headaches. Since they are in space, their organs are usually floating up, as they would if they were upside down. White willow tree bark can be ground into tea to help alleviate headaches. White willow tree also produces a lot of oxygen.

I usually enjoy things that make me feel calm–for example, mountains or green landscapes. Another thing that makes me feel calm are games. The cool thing about games is that there can be a genre of games for anyone. Personally I enjoy this game called Roblox, a website with its own games and its own creator platform. My favorite sport is soccer, and I found out that I am good at stealing the ball. I also enjoy cooking. When I was nine years old, I started by making grilled cheese and quesadillas. Then I learned to make different foods like eggs or ground beef.

I am glad I have this opportunity to go to Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where we will share our experiment with other students from around the country. It is also exciting and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to send an important experiment up to space.

My name is Orion Grier, and I am signing off.

Hi! My name is Tron Brumley. I am a 7th grader at iLEAD Lancaster and am a part of Team Salix alba for DreamUp to Space. The goal of our experiment is to see if a white willow tree (Salix alba) cutting or a seed germinates in microgravity. I joined the team to help see if trees can grow in microgravity. I like space and am interested in what is out there in the universe. I am happy that DreamUp is giving my team this chance to go to Kennedy Space Center in Florida and send a white willow tree to space.

In addition to science, I like Sonic and Godzilla, but mostly I like video games. My favorite food is pizza. I play soccer for AYSO, and my team won one championship.

I hope that you will be able to donate to help our team attend the Delegation at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Hello! My name is James Padilla, but you can call me JP if you want. I am 12 years old, and I’m in 7th grade. I go to iLEAD Lancaster, and I am part of Team White Willow Tree for DreamUp to Space. Our experiment focuses on whether a white willow tree’s seed/cutting will germinate in microgravity. We are fundraising for our trip to Kennedy Space Center in Florida to attend a delegation of other students to present our findings and learn from others. I really hope that I can go to Florida for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Aside from space and school, I like to play games with my friends and my brother. My favorite food is tacos. I’ve been playing baseball for almost three years, and I really like it, especially because of the friends I’ve made.

Hi! I’m Rafael Lemus. I’m in 7th grade at iLEAD Lancaster, and I’m on Team Salix alba (Willow Tree). Our experiment goal is to send willow trees into microgravity. I decided to join a DreamUp Launch Team because it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to send an experiment to space. It will also be a lot of fun. Some facts about me: My favorite place is Olive Garden, I love drawing and am trying to get better at it, and I love playing VR.

Hello! My name is Tyev Briggs. I go to iLEAD Lancaster, and I’m on Team White Willow Tree. The question our experiment will answer is “How will white willow trees grow in microgravity?” One of my favorite things to do is to draw. I like to play games with my friends. My favorite foods are burgers, pizza, tamales, and pasta. This is one of the first big projects that I’m participating in, and it is a huge step for me. My friends are Orion, Tron, Esetaban, James, and Rafa.