Tyndall Academy STEM students talk science with astronaut

PANAMA CITY, Fla. ( WMBB ) — A group of lucky students from Tyndall Academy got the opportunity of a lifetime Friday afternoon when they got a chance to meet an astronaut as she touched down with the Thunderbirds.

After landing the Thunderbird Pilots signed autographs for kids and their parents on the Tyndall flight line.

Last year, Astronaut Kellie Gerardi flew on Glactic-05, in a sub-orbital spaceflight. During that spaceflight, she conducted several micro-gravity experiments developed by the National Research Council.

Students were excited for a chance to meet her and ask questions.

Gerardi told us about an experiment she did in space and was able to get more data on the experiment during her flight with the Thunderbirds.

“I got permission to bring one of the experiments that I flew in space with me today on the F-16, which is a continuous glucose monitor,” Gerardi said. “We’re working on studying insulin resistance in space, but I also want to collect a little bit of data in really high G, hypergravity environments. As the newest member of the 9-G club, newly minted today, I was able to capture that data too.”

After the meet and greet, Gerardi had a special surprise for the Tyndall Academy students. Stickers she had taken with her to space were given out to each student.

The event was a way to encourage young women to enter the STEM fields.

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