BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Paper rockets soared across a local school field as elementary students put their engineering skills to the test, guided by Guardians who brought the mission of space to life through hands-on STEM outreach.
The event, led by Space Systems Command in partnership with Space Launch Delta 45 and Brevard Public Schools, connected students directly with the men and women who help execute America’s space launch mission along the Space Coast.
For Nicole Palmer, SSC STEM director, the importance of outreach begins with long-term readiness.
“STEM Outreach is vital to Space Systems Command because tomorrow’s Guardians are in today’s classroom,” Palmer said. “By inspiring curiosity in STEM, SSC is making an investment in our future technical workforce, ensuring that we have the scientists and engineers to maintain Space Superiority.”
Throughout the event, students designed and built paper rockets, experimenting with fin shapes, balance and structure before launching their creations. While the activity appeared simple, it introduced core engineering principles and encouraged innovation.
“We find hands-on activities really get the kids’ creative side to open up,” Palmer explained. “They realize they have so much control over creating designs and how what they design can be changed and altered for different results—exploring many aspects of the engineering life cycle without even noticing. It also promotes teamwork. The kids often share their ideas and help each other out. It’s lovely to see them all working together to build the best rocket.”
Beyond inspiring curiosity, the partnership strengthens the connection between the installation and the local community. An impact highlighted by Susan Clark, SLD 45 school liaison program manager.
“From the perspective of the School Liaison Office, creating partnership opportunities to have our Guardians interact directly with students has the potential to open future inspiration for college and career pathways that may not have previously existed in their minds yet as young elementary-aged students,” Clark said.
Clark noted that the ongoing SSC and SLD 45 STEM partnership with Brevard Public Schools provides students with engaging, hands-on opportunities—and the unforgettable experience of launching something they built themselves.
“Our SSC/SLD 45 STEM partnership with Brevard Public Schools is crucial to helping recruit the future STEM workforce by offering hands-on, engaging activities, and a chance to participate in launching something the students created—therefore creating a lasting memory of their experience with our Guardian Team,” Clark said. “It has been very fulfilling bringing this type of experience to students and seeing the Guardians have a platform to share their knowledge and skills in the local community.”
For U.S. Space Force Master Sgt. Andrew Solito, 1st Range Operations senior enlisted leader, volunteering for outreach is deeply personal.
“It’s very meaningful to me considering these children are similar in age to my own children, and it’s great to see them get so excited about the lessons,” Solito said. “I think community involvement should be a key function of our personnel considering how expansive the space mission is in the community and that many families have connections to it in some way.”
U.S. Space Force Master Sgt. Molly Meyer, Space Launch Delta 45 executive assistant to the senior enlisted leader, echoed that sentiment.
“I really enjoy working with the children and seeing them get excited about learning something new,” Meyer said. “Living on the Space Coast, we see launches regularly, but watching students connect what they see in the sky to what we’re teaching them is incredibly rewarding. Events like these help make the Space Force less of a mystery and build meaningful connections with the community we serve.”
Along the Space Coast, where rocket launches are a regular sight and even felt in the rumble of windows during liftoff, outreach provides an opportunity to build understanding.
“Because of how public our mission is, all these students have their own experience with seeing rockets fly across the sky, but not all of them fully grasp the connection of what it’s for,” Solito said. “Growing up with the windows rumbling regularly from active space lift is a very unique situation. We as a force locally should be taking these chances when they come to demystify it a little bit and enrich our connection to the community that supports us.”
As paper rockets climbed skyward, the event accomplished more than a successful launch—it strengthened trust, inspired imagination and reinforced the bond between Guardians and the community they serve. Through deliberate STEM engagement, SSC and SLD45 continue investing in the next generation of innovators who may one day lead the future of space operations.