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ISS Program Videos

ISS Program Overview

2009

In 2009, Valley Christian set its sights on a dream that seemed almost impossible: sending student experiments to the International Space Station (ISS). What began as a casual conversation with Werner Vavken, alumni parent and VCS Prayer Intercessor, soon grew into one of the most innovative high school STEM programs in the world. Dr. Daugherty, saw in this vision an opportunity to make the school truly unique. “If we can lead people to Christ and get them started on a Quest, then everything else becomes meaningful,” he said. With that conviction, he prompted Vavken and gathered pioneers, like alum parent Dan Saldana, and Howell Ivy, who had current students at the time, all eager to bring the dream to life.

2011 - 2012

How do you get an experiment to the International Space Station?

2012 - 2013

ISS project highlights from multiple schools during the 2012-2013 school year, including the Multi-Cavity Microgravity Experimental Kit, the VC Ferro Fluid Group’s research on growing plants in space, and other insightful experiments conducted aboard the ISS.

2015

ABC 7 News highlighted Valley Christian Schools’ partnership with NASA startup Made In Space. Through this collaboration, an experimental 3D printer was sent to the ISS, allowing VCS students to transmit their 3D designs over the internet to be printed in space and used to support astronauts aboard the station.

2015

Valley Christian Schools was selected as KPIX Channel 5 News’ “Cool School” of the week, featuring an overview of remarkable student-led experiments conducted aboard the ISS. The experiments, which include studies of ferrofluids, bacteria, and plant growth, launched on a SpaceX rocket on March 1, 2015. Students receive data every three days to monitor progress from space, and what began at VCS has since expanded to more than eight high schools nationwide, earning recognition from three U.S. presidents and NASA.

2016

On KGO 810 News, sophomore Monica Bodd (’14) explains her VCS group project on electroplating, which analyzed the effects of electroplating in space by testing gold, bronze, and stainless steel. The project took approximately five months to complete, beginning in August 2015, and was mailed to NASA on January 30, 2016, for delivery to the ISS.

NBC Bay Area Proud

Valley Christian Junior High was featured on NBC Bay Area Proud after spending four months developing experiments scheduled to be sent to space in the spring. Students designed experiments destined for the ISS, marking the first time this program has been introduced at the junior high level after being successfully implemented at other high schools. The two experiments investigate the effects of microgravity on the density of certain molecules and on the growth potential of penicillin.

ISS 2021 Program Overview

ISS Overview by Microsoft

Valley Christian students and innovators design experiments for the International Space Station, monitoring real-time data as they help advance scientific discovery beyond the sky.