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Wallops Island, VA – June, 2025 – A unique scientific endeavor, dubbed "Sound of Crickets," successfully launched from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility as part of the NASA RockSat C program. This mission, a collaborative effort between the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs (UCCS) and Widefield School District 3 (WSD3), aims to explore sustainable protein sources for future long-duration space missions.

About NASA RockSat C

The NASA RockSat C program is an annual suborbital mission that provides post-secondary teams with an unparalleled opportunity to conceive of, design, build, and execute custom scientific experiments. These experiments are integrated into payloads on modified sounding rockets, offering a real-world experience in aerospace engineering and scientific research. This year's mission carried seven distinct experimental designs from colleges across the nation.

The "Sound of Crickets" Mission: A Novel Approach to Space Food

The "Sound of Crickets" mission represents a groundbreaking joint venture, combining the academic rigor of UCCS's Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering (MAE) department with the innovative spirit of Widefield School District 3. The UCCS student team included Anna Daetz, William Kilcrease, Bryson Chittum, and Aaron Kerber. From Widefield School District 3, 2025 Widefield High School seniors Paris Ates and Andrea Schumacher were key contributors, working under the dedicated direction of Pershing Markle, the esteemed astronomy and science teacher at Widefield High School.

This ambitious project received vital funding from a combination of sources, including the Rocky Mountain AFCEA Chapter, Pikes Peak Robotics, the Colorado Space Grant Consortium, and generous private donors, all of whom recognized the mission's significant potential.

The core objective of the "Sound of Crickets" mission addresses a critical quandary for future long-term (multi-year) space expeditions: how to provide a sustainable source of animal protein for space explorers inhabiting future outposts. Extensive research has identified crickets as a promising candidate for this role. While previous studies, such as those by Carleton University (see https://newsroom.carleton.ca/story/crickets-in-space/), have explored live crickets in microgravity environments, no prior research has focused on the effects of launch conditions on fertilized, unhatched cricket eggs. The UCCS/WSD3 team sought to fill this knowledge gap by measuring variables such as hatch rate, gender, growth rate, and other biological factors post-launch.

Rigorous Preparation and Invaluable Mentorship

Throughout the academic year, the team met weekly with Dr. Lynnane George of UCCS and Dr. Nathaniel Sobin of WSD3 to provide guidance and project oversight. These internal reviews were complemented by monthly design reviews with NASA, a testament to the project's complexity and the team's commitment. NASA's consistent approval at each benchmark underscored the team's readiness and the mission's viability.

A special acknowledgment must be given to Pershing Markle, whose incredible work and unwavering dedication were instrumental in making this mission possible. Mr. Markle's mentorship of the WSD3 students throughout this year-long project was invaluable, guiding them through the intricacies of scientific research and engineering design. His role as an astronomy and science teacher at WHS, coupled with his personal commitment, truly exemplifies an incredible educator and individual.

Successful Launch and Anticipated Results

On June 26, 2025, at 5:30 AM EST, the "Sound of Crickets" payload soared into space aboard a modified sounding rocket. The rocket achieved an impressive apogee of 119 kilometers, well above the 100-kilometer Kármán Line, which is widely recognized as the boundary of space. The mission was successfully retrieved, and the precious payload of fertilized cricket eggs was carefully placed back into an incubator for the journey back to Colorado Springs.

Dr. Abbey Swift of UCCS has hatched both the experimental and control groups. The control group that did not experience the rocket launch had a 58% hatch rate. The experimental group that did experience the rocket launch had a 47% hatch rate. Dr. Swift will continue to breed the crickets from both groups for 3 additional generations to determine reproductive viability.

For those who wish to relive the moment, a link to NASA's perspective of the launch can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MC4Zqvvt54.

The "Sound of Crickets" mission stands as a shining example of inter-institutional collaboration, student ingenuity, and the critical role of dedicated educators like Pershing Markle in pushing the boundaries of scientific exploration. The insights gained from this mission could significantly contribute to solving the challenges of long-duration human spaceflight and exploration.