Nebraska Graduate Student Plays Critical Role in Launch of International Space Station Payload

Omaha – The Nebraska NASA EPSCoR program is pleased to announce that a scientific payload developed by researchers from the University of Nebraska with support from NASA EPSCoR was successfully launched to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard an Orbital-ATK Antares rocket on October 17. The rocket was launched from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, which is located on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

The payload, officially designated as the Detector for the Analysis of Solar Neutrons or DANSON, uses a boron carbide to absorb neutrons, which could enable researchers to use the material for the generation of power during space flight.

Special credit for the success of the payload’s development and integration goes to Nicole Benker, a graduate student at UN-L, who was instrumental in helping the researchers navigate NASA’s payload integration process.

“Nicole played a critical role in bringing this project to fruition and getting the payload on board the Orbital-ATK launch vehicle. She demonstrated what we know very well, that Nebraska students are capable of incredible things when given the support and encouragement to take on new challenges,” said Scott Tarry, director of the NASA Office at UNO.

Nicole’s hard work earned her a trip to Wallops, where she participated in pre-launch activities and watched the Antares rocket lift off on its journey to the ISS.

NASA Nebraska Space Grant and EPSCoR was thrilled to give Nicole the opportunity.

Benker said of the experience, “Thank you everyone for the opportunity to go to the launch. It was an amazing experience watching the rocket go up with a payload that I've been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to work on.”