Shuttle Discovery Launches With Oklahoma Research Inside

By Colleen Chen, NEWS 9

ARDMORE, Oklahoma -- A piece of Oklahoma launched into space Monday with the Shuttle Discovery.

Research from the Noble Foundation in Ardmore was chosen by NASA to be a part of the mission.

Dr. Elison Blancaflor was the leader on the project. He along with three others from the Noble Foundation spent time on several rehearsals before Monday's launch to make sure the experiment would go smoothly.

"There's a feeling of excitement and anxiety a little bit," Blancaflor said.

His research on the Shuttle Discovery is a study on fundamental plant behavior. Blancaflor is looking to see the effects of gravity.

"Scientists when they do experiments the controls are very important, and control for studies on gravity is to go where there is weightlessness, which is space," Blancaflor said.

Blancaflor said he expects that the plants will grow randomly without gravity but won't know until the mission is over. The plants will be chemically fixed before landing so researchers can see the state of the plants the way they were in space.

"The research is very important on improving agriculture. It can show us how to better genetically engineer plants to improve agriculture not only in Oklahoma but throughout the world, "Blancaflor said.

He said NASA is also interested in his research when it comes to the possibility of long term space exploration.

"Plants will place an important role in an enclosed environment for humans to colonize space. It's like science fiction, but it's something they think about," Blancaflor said.

Blancaflor's research assistant, Alan Sparks, said he is thrilled with the opportunity.

"The prestige of NASA is just so high that just to be able to go there and work in the labs is excellent. It's going to be hard to top this always," Sparks said.

The researchers considered the experience a once in a lifetime opportunity, and they said the potential impact is exciting for the team.

"To be a part of it, even a small part, is still a big privilege and it's exciting," Blancaflor said.