Space Trek: The Summer Program Sending Kentucky Girls Into Aerospace

Susan Wise: Hi, and welcome to Stars Launch Pod: Space Technology and Research Sciences, brought to you by StarSciences.org, where we connect, collaborate, and accelerate. I’m your host, Susan Wise, and with us today are Jen Carter, Director of the Center for STEM Excellence and the Space Trek program, and Chloe Hart, Ground Station Engineer and Operations Manager at Morehead State University and a telecommunications instructor with Space Trek.

Welcome, welcome. We’re so glad to have you both here.

Jennifer Carter and Chloe Hart: Hi. Hi, Susan. Thank you. Yeah, thank you for having us.

Susan Wise: I’m really excited to hear a little bit more about both of you, what’s going on with you, and what you’re working on to further the space industry.

Jennifer Carter and Chloe Hart: Yeah, absolutely. We have created a program called Space Trek. It’s a two-week residential program for high school–aged girls, located here at Morehead State University, that gives them hands-on, college- and career-connected experiences in space systems engineering.

Through that program, the girls are given a mission: to measure the temperature of the atmosphere up to five kilometers. To do that, they build a satellite-like device called a CricketSat that measures temperature.

Susan Wise: A satellite—satellite-like, you know. I’ve never seen one before, and I didn’t realize they were so small. I love that.

Jennifer Carter and Chloe Hart: Yeah, absolutely. The capability of our CricketSat is very analogous to the function of a satellite. It has a sensor on board, it collects data, and it wirelessly transmits that data to a user.

That’s exactly what the CricketSat does. It measures temperature in the atmosphere and has a radio and antennas that wirelessly transmit the information down to the ground. The girls in the program, working in teams of three, assemble and operate a portable satellite tracking station. In real time, they collect temperature data and then use Microsoft Excel to create graphs, making the data meaningful and accessible to others. They also produce a technical mission presentation in which they present their satellite design, their concept of operations, and their research.

Susan Wise: And you said these are high schoolers?

Jennifer Carter and Chloe Hart: Yes. Some of them have just completed eighth grade and are going into ninth grade.

Susan Wise: Oh, my word.

Jennifer Carter and Chloe Hart: Some have just completed their senior year of high school and are entering their freshman year of college. So when we say this program is for high school girls, it includes girls rising into ninth grade and those entering college as freshmen. The only requirement is Algebra I, because we really build upon Algebra I content. It’s a direct application of Algebra I in the real world.

Susan Wise: And I know you know a lot about math, Jen, but just the mention of algebra gets me right here. Still, what you’re doing—igniting that spark in young women to get into science and space—is so exciting. I wish we had that when I was that age.

Jennifer Carter and Chloe Hart: That reaction to Algebra I is something a lot of our girls feel when they first enter the program. But when they see it applied in a real-world context and understand why they’re using these concepts, it really excites them about future math concepts.

Susan Wise: You know what—

Jennifer Carter and Chloe Hart: —and it validates their learning.

Susan Wise: It really does. When I was in school, I used to think, “When am I ever going to use this?” Well, here we are. I love that.

Jennifer Carter and Chloe Hart: Exactly—this is one way you can.

Susan Wise: That’s so exciting. I love what you’re doing. What about a big “aha” moment? Either one of you can take this.

Jennifer Carter and Chloe Hart: I’ve really had two.

Susan Wise: Okay.

Jennifer Carter and Chloe Hart: The first happened during the graduation of the very first Space Trek program back in 2012. That was when I realized the program had meaningfully impacted teenage girls. I heard girls talking to their parents, and parents talking to their daughters and to me, about how much the program had truly impacted them.

It’s wonderful that we expose young women to space systems engineering and aerospace careers, but we also wrap an empowerment program around the space systems curriculum. That addresses the whole learner—mind, body, and spirit. We do things beyond the curriculum, like yoga, mindfulness, and living on a college campus.

Susan Wise: Developing friendships and learning.

Jennifer Carter and Chloe Hart: Yes—things like “Laundry 101.” It’s empowerment. Every girl has a great brain that needs to be challenged through a mission like this, but addressing learning from a holistic perspective is really the key to success. That’s what we heard from students and parents alike. Girls who never thought space systems engineering would interest them discovered that they wanted to pursue it.

Susan Wise: I love that concept. Sometimes you might love math, but science can feel overwhelming. I love how this program lifts them up on all levels.

Jennifer Carter and Chloe Hart: Absolutely. That leads to my second “aha” moment in 2015, when we first looked at enrollment data for the undergraduate space systems engineering program at Morehead State University. That fall, 40% of incoming freshmen were female—and 100% of those girls were Space Trek alumnae.

Susan Wise: Oh, I love that.

Jennifer Carter and Chloe Hart: Chloe, that leads right into your “aha” moment.

Chloe Hart: Yes. My “aha” moment actually came before I started working with Space Trek as an instructor. I was an alumna from that same year. I had always been book-smart, but I didn’t know I could do hands-on, practical work. I was terrified when I first went to Space Trek—I cried in the car on the way, convinced I was going to fail.

But the empowerment program and the hands-on learning encouraged me so much that I went on to earn my degree here at Morehead State University. During Space Trek, I served as an antenna operator. Now, I’m the operations manager for our 21-meter ground station that works with NASA’s Deep Space Network.

Coming full circle and returning to teach telecommunications has been an incredible experience. Space Trek truly changes young people’s trajectories. For many, it inspires them to pursue aerospace as a degree and career. For others, it simply empowers them to believe they can do anything. Today, our alumnae include OB-GYNs, lawyers, and professionals across many fields. It’s a real program with real impact.

Susan Wise: It really says a lot that you came full circle, Chloe—from student to instructor. That speaks volumes about the program. I love what you’re doing.

If I were a parent of a young girl, how would I get involved? What steps would we need to take?

Jennifer Carter and Chloe Hart: Each year we accept 24 girls through an application process. We have applicants from across Kentucky and from around the world. Parents should tell their daughters about Space Trek, show them the website and social media, and encourage them to apply.

Susan Wise: On this journey, there are always ups and downs. What has been one of your biggest challenges, and how did you overcome it?

Jennifer Carter: Funding has always been our biggest challenge. The registration fee is minimal and only covers food. Over the years, we’ve relied on grants and donations—from early piecemeal funding to major grants through the American Rescue Plan and the Appalachian Regional Commission. Our current funding runs through 2027, so sustainability is always a concern.

Susan Wise: You clearly have the results to show that this program is worthy of continued support. I truly hope this helps raise awareness.

Susan Wise: Chloe, what about you?

Chloe Hart: One of the biggest challenges for me as an instructor is resisting the urge to step in when the girls are frustrated. The learning curve is steep and fast-paced, especially in the first week. But when they overcome those challenges on their own, it’s incredibly powerful. Every single girl amazes me.

Susan Wise: You’re both inspiring. Any advice for our listeners, Jen?

Jennifer Carter: Say yes to what you should say yes to—and no to what you should say no to. Say yes to taking risks, like attending a summer program, meeting new people, and trying new things. When you say yes to opportunities like Space Trek, you’re really saying yes to yourself.

Susan Wise: Beautiful. Chloe?

Chloe Hart: Try anything that interests you, even if it doesn’t fit neatly into your career plan. No knowledge is wasted. Every experience teaches you something you can apply later.

Susan Wise: Do you have any other passion projects you’d like to mention?

Jennifer Carter: Our current passion project is our ambassador program. Anyone who believes in Space Trek can be an ambassador—including you, Susan. We also have an alumni and family ambassador program that helps us stay connected with past participants and build their leadership, communication, and networking skills.

Susan Wise: I love how holistic and well-rounded Space Trek is.

Chloe Hart: We’re also passionate about spreading awareness in Kentucky and the Appalachian region. Kentucky’s number-one export is aerospace parts, and many students don’t know that aerospace careers are available to them locally. We want to reach students before they believe they only have a few career options.

Susan Wise: I love everything I’m hearing. I want to be an ambassador.

Jennifer Carter and Chloe Hart: Yes!

Susan Wise: Thank you both so much for sharing your journey. We look forward to having you back on Stars Launch Pod—and maybe even meeting some of your students.

Jennifer Carter and Chloe Hart: That would be wonderful. Thank you, Susan.

Susan Wise: Be sure to join us where we connect, collaborate, and accelerate.. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and subscribe. Until next time—keep looking up.