Higher Orbits
Higher Orbits is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs multi-day Go For Launch! events for U.S. high school students, enabling teams to design experiments launched to the International Space Station, supported by astronaut mentorship, corporate sponsorships, donations, and event registration fees.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersAurora, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Higher Orbits does
Higher Orbits is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2016 by Michelle Lucas, a former NASA International Space Station Flight Control Operations planner and Astronaut Instructor. The organization's mission is to promote STEM/STEAM education alongside leadership, teamwork, and communication skills for high school students by using spaceflight as the engagement platform. It is headquartered in the United States, operates with 1-10 employees, and is governed by an independent Board of Directors with no parent company or institutional investors.
The flagship product is Go For Launch!, a multi-day program (not overnight) where teams of students in grades 8-12 design scientific experiments under the mentorship of retired NASA astronauts and space industry professionals. Winning experiments are sent to the International Space Station through a logistics partnership with Space Tango and conducted in space by real astronauts; to date, 24 experiments have reached the ISS. Supporting programs include the EASE Space Coalition (broadening access for underrepresented students), Stars in Orbit (invitation-only extended mentorship), the International Science School in Sydney (5 U.S. students selected annually since 2019), conference participation at ASCEND/IAC/AIAA SciTech/Von Braun/ASGSR, Higher Orbits Talks video content, the annual Galactic Golf fundraiser, and the Space Song for STEM music initiative (Trip Harriss's rendition of Clair de Lune). The organization has run 100 events across 23 U.S. states with 3,000+ alumni.
The business model is a diversified nonprofit revenue stack: individual donations (PayPal, Venmo, securities, IRA Charitable Rollovers), corporate sponsorships at tiered levels (Apollo, Eagle Team, Columbia Team, Chip-In Supporters for fundraisers; Stellar Sojourner through Intergalactic Voyagers for events), event registration fees on a $25-$350 sliding scale with scholarships, music streaming royalties, and event-driven fundraising (Galactic Golf). Distribution is entirely direct and event-driven through partnerships with schools, universities, Challenger Learning Centers, and corporate campuses (Amazon HQ, NewSpace Nexus, Redstone FCU, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex), with no proprietary technology platform, no API, and no app — the underlying "technology" is the operational pipeline from classroom experiment to ISS execution via Space Tango.
Higher Orbits firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Higher Orbits
- Legal name
- Higher Orbits
- Website
- https://higherorbits.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Higher Orbits is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs multi-day Go For Launch! events for U.S. high school students, enabling teams to design experiments launched to the International Space Station, supported by astronaut mentorship, corporate sponsorships, donations, and event registration fees.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Higher Orbits industry classification
Industry- Product category
- STEM Education
- NAICS
- Flight Training (611512)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Space & Astronomy Programs (EDAMABAE)
Keywords
Where Higher Orbits is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Aurora
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices10 records
Markets served
Higher Orbits business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Donations: General donations from individuals allow Higher Orbits to grant scholarships to students for Space and STEM related programs. Donations are accepted via PayPal, Venmo, and stock/cash/securities transfers. The organization also accepts IRA Charitable Rollovers.
- Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors enable Go For Launch! events to be hosted across the country, carving the way for student-led research. Sponsorships range from event-level to multi-year partnerships and are solicited at various tiers (e.g., Stellar Sojourner, Pluto Pioneers, Lunar Rovers, Earth Orbit Club, Intergalactic Voyagers for event sponsors; Apollo, Eagle Team, Columbia Team, Chip-In Supporters for the Galactic Golf outing).
- Event Registration Fees: Registration fees for Go For Launch! events range from $25 to $75 per student at standard events, with some events offered on a 'pay what you can' sliding scale up to $350 (standard program cost), enabling broad access regardless of financial circumstance.
- Music Sales and Streaming Royalties: Space Song for STEM: A Moonlight Melody — Trip Harriss records and releases a rendition of Debussy's Clair de Lune. All proceeds from streams on subscription services (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.) and digital purchases (iTunes, Pandora) benefit the Higher Orbits mission.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | Standard Go For Launch! Event |
| Other | One time | Huntsville 2026 - Pay What You Can |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Space Song for STEM Music Purchase/Stream |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels10 records
Higher Orbits product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Higher Orbits is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that operates the Go For Launch! program, a multi-day STEM event for high school students where teams design science experiments, with the winning experiment launched to the International Space Station. The organization also runs complementary programs including the EASE Space Coalition, Stars in Orbit mentorship, International Science School, Conference Participation Program, Galactic Golf fundraising event, and the Space Song For STEM music initiative.
Product overview
Higher Orbits is a 501(c)(3) non-profit STEM education organization with a mission to inspire and engage high-school students through spaceflight and hands-on, project-based learning experiences. The organization operates primarily through its flagship Go For Launch! program, a multiday event series where students design experiments that are launched to the International Space Station. Supporting programs include the EASE Space Coalition for broadening access, Stars in Orbit mentorship program for continued engagement, the International Science School in Sydney for international STEM experiences, Conference Participation for professional development, Higher Orbits Talks video content, Galactic Golf fundraising events, and the Space Song For STEM music initiative. The organization has sent 24 experiments to space and reached over 2,500 students across 23 states.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Go For Launch!: A multi-day program (not overnight) that uses Space Exploration as a platform to launch student involvement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), STEAM (Art), teamwork, communication and leadership for high school-aged students.
- EASE Space Coalition
- Stars in Orbit
Products and services
- Go For Launch! Multi-day STEM program for high school students where teams design science experiments, with the winning experiment launched to the International Space Station through partner Space Tango. Events are priced on a sliding scale ($25-$350) to maximize accessibility.
Quantifiable outcome
- 24 experiments have been launched to and conducted aboard the International Space Station
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Higher Orbits
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Higher Orbits technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Higher Orbits partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Space TangocoreSpace Tango is a key operational partner responsible for sending student experiments to the International Space Station. Through the Go For Launch! program, winning experiments are built and sent to the ISS via Space Tango's facilities and logistics, making this partnership central to the program's unique value proposition of enabling students to conduct real science in space.
- SamsoniteminorSamsonite generously donated luggage to each of the five 2025 U.S. students representing the USA at the International Science School in Sydney, Australia, ensuring students had quality luggage for their 7,500-mile journey.
- Club for Future (CFTF)minorFeatured sponsor of Higher Orbits with a logo displayed on the Sponsors & Partners page, indicating a marketing partnership to support the organization's mission.
- Tech-MaxminorApollo-level sponsor of the 2026 Galactic Golf Outing, providing Go for Lunch! & Beverages and serving as a Food & Beverage Cart Sponsor.
- Scot ForgeminorSponsor of the 2026 Galactic Golf Outing, hosting the Donut Station. Scot Forge has also partnered with Higher Orbits at Space Symposium 2026.
- VeilantminorSponsor of the 2026 Galactic Golf Outing.
- SMR Strategic InvestmentsminorEagle Team Sponsor of the 2026 Galactic Golf Outing.
- Vzable EducationminorEagle Team Sponsor of the 2026 Galactic Golf Outing.
- RBCminorColumbia Team Sponsor of the 2026 Galactic Golf Outing.
- WintrustminorColumbia Team Sponsor of the 2026 Galactic Golf Outing.
- GPM (GPM Manufacturing)minorColumbia Team Sponsor of the 2026 Galactic Golf Outing.
- FlowserveminorColumbia Team Sponsor of the 2026 Galactic Golf Outing.
- NewSpace Nexus LaunchpadcoreNewSpace Nexus Launchpad in Albuquerque, NM serves as the venue and host for Go For Launch! Albuquerque 2026, providing facilities and local support for the two-day STEM event targeting students in grades 8-12.
- Redstone Federal Credit UnioncoreHost venue for Go For Launch! Huntsville events, including the 2026 event. Located at 220 Wynn Dr. NW, Huntsville, AL 35893, Redstone Federal Credit Union provides the facilities for the multi-day program.
- AmazoncoreAmazon serves as the host venue for Go For Launch! Arlington, VA 2026 at Amazon Headquarters 2 (525 14th St. S, Arlington, VA 22202), providing facilities for the two-day student STEM event.
- Lake Superior State University (LSSU)coreLSSU in Sault Ste. Marie, MI hosts Go For Launch! events at its campus (650 W Easterday Ave, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783), including the 2026 event. The university provides facilities and academic credibility for the STEM program.
- Mott Community CollegecoreMott Community College's Regional Technology Center at 1401 E. Court St., Flint MI 48503 hosts Go For Launch! Flint 2026, providing facilities for the two-day event targeting students in grades 8-12.
- Challenger Learning Center (Las Cruces)coreThe Challenger Learning Center in Las Cruces, NM served as the venue for Higher Orbits' first Go For Launch! event in New Mexico in September 2025, bringing together students in grades 8-12 from across the Las Cruces Public Schools district.
- Midland Development CorporationcorePartnered with Midland ISD and Chevron to bring the Go For Launch! program back to the Permian Basin for events in Midland, TX, providing funding and organizational support.
- Midland ISDcoreMidland Independent School District partnered with the Midland Development Corporation and Chevron to host Go For Launch! events at Abell Junior High School in Midland, TX.
- ChevroncoreChevron partnered with the Midland Development Corporation and Midland ISD to bring Go For Launch! back to the Permian Basin, providing corporate sponsorship and support for the multi-day STEM event.
- CIRIcoreCIRI (Cook Inlet Region, Inc.) partnered with Higher Orbits to present a Go For Launch! event exclusively for CIRI Descendants and Stakeholders in Colorado Springs, CO in July 2026, demonstrating a targeted DEI partnership to broaden access to STEM education.
- Generation TrademinorCorporate sponsor that provided support for Nogales High School student Alexis Simon to attend the Higher Orbits Student Symposium: Alumni Reunion in Chicago.
- Dr. Jaw OrthodonticsminorCorporate sponsor that provided support for Nogales High School student Alexis Simon to attend the Higher Orbits Student Symposium: Alumni Reunion in Chicago.
- Calixtro DistributingminorCorporate sponsor that provided support for Nogales High School student Alexis Simon to attend the Higher Orbits Student Symposium: Alumni Reunion in Chicago.
- Stella Maris School (Mt. Pleasant, SC)coreStella Maris School at 1183 Russell Drive, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464 hosts Go For Launch! Charleston 2026, serving as the venue for the two-day event.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Higher Orbits competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- U.S. Space & Rocket Center (Space Camp): Operates the iconic Space Camp programs that engage school-age students in immersive space-themed STEM experiences. Direct peer in mission and audience, with a longer operating history and broader residential program offering.
- Brooke Owens Fellowship: Aerospace internship and fellowship program that has hosted Higher Orbits alumni as Fellows. Operates in adjacent talent-pipeline space for the aerospace industry, serving similar student demographics.
- Cosmosphere: Space museum and education center in Hutchinson, KS offering immersive STEM camps and space-themed programs for school-age students. Comparable in mission and experiential STEM delivery.
- Space Center Houston: Official visitor center of NASA Johnson Space Center offering space-themed educational programs, summer camps, and STEM experiences for students. Direct peer with much larger infrastructure.
- Challenger Learning Centers: Network of science centers hosting space-themed simulated mission experiences for students, including the Las Cruces center that partners with Higher Orbits. Closely comparable in audience and space-themed STEM programming.
- Sally Ride Science: Space-focused STEM education organization founded in honor of astronaut Sally Ride, delivering programs and resources that inspire students — particularly girls — in STEM. Direct peer in mission and astronaut-anchored branding.
Broad incumbents
- Space Foundation: Large aerospace advocacy and education organization running space-inspired STEM programs, teacher training, and the Space Symposium — overlapping with Higher Orbits in mission and conference participation.
- AIAA STEM Programs: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics runs aerospace education and outreach programs serving the same student demographic and aerospace-career pipeline that Higher Orbits targets.
- Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: National museum delivering space-themed educational programming and STEM outreach to school-age audiences. Functions as a broad incumbent in the same inspiration-to-career pipeline that Higher Orbits serves.
- FIRST Robotics: Global K-12 STEM engagement organization delivering project-based robotics competitions. Comparable in mission (inspiring students through hands-on STEM) and target demographic, but with far greater scale.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Higher Orbits social profiles
Digital presenceHigher Orbits financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Higher Orbits leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Higher Orbits funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Higher Orbits M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Higher Orbits
What does Higher Orbits do?
Higher Orbits is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that operates the Go For Launch! program, a multi-day STEM event for high school students where teams design science experiments, with the winning experiment launched to the International Space Station. The organization also runs complementary programs including the EASE Space Coalition, Stars in Orbit mentorship, International Science School, Conference Participation Program, Galactic Golf fundraising event, and the Space Song For STEM music initiative.
Is Higher Orbits a public or private company?
Higher Orbits is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Higher Orbits founded?
Higher Orbits was founded in 2016. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Higher Orbits based?
Higher Orbits is headquartered in Aurora, United States, in the North America region.
How does Higher Orbits make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations are the primary driver. The others are corporate Sponsorships, event Registration Fees and music Sales and Streaming Royalties.
Who are Higher Orbits's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are U.S. Space & Rocket Center (Space Camp), Brooke Owens Fellowship, Cosmosphere, Space Center Houston, Challenger Learning Centers and Sally Ride Science. Broad incumbents are Space Foundation, AIAA STEM Programs, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and FIRST Robotics.
Does Higher Orbits have an API?
No public API is recorded for Higher Orbits.
What industry is Higher Orbits in?
Higher Orbits's product category is STEM Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMABAE, Space & Astronomy Programs. Its NAICS code is 611512.