Blue Origin Brings Rocket and Science Experiments to Over 150 Students in Orlando

Blue Origin’s Club for the Future and COSI bring HIVE Roadshow to Orlando, connecting hands-on STEAM experiences with the aerospace careers of tomorrow

Blue Origin’s nonprofit Club for the Future partnered with COSI, to bring hands-on rocket and science experiments to 150 students at the Orlando Science Center’s STEM lab at the City of Orlando’s Grand Avenue Neighborhood Center. The event provided students with an immersive introduction to careers in aerospace, engineering, manufacturing, robotics, and advanced technology. 

"America’s space economy is growing, and we want students to know there is a place for them in it," said Heather Nelson, Director of Club for the Future. "A student exploring STEAM today could one day build a rocket, design a lunar lander, or solve an engineering challenge we haven’t imagined yet. With more than 4,500 employees and more than $3 billion invested across Florida, Blue Origin is creating opportunities right here in their backyard. Our goal is to spark that possibility early and help young people see how the skills they’re building today can lead to careers that help build a road to space, for the benefit of Earth."

Across six interactive stations, students built and launched Alka-Seltzer rockets, designed Moon bases, used data to make predictions about spacecraft design, and prepared for missions beyond Earth. The activities paired technical concepts with workforce skills—critical thinking, communication, and attention to detail—helping students make a direct connection between what they are learning in school and the careers that could await them. 

"A strong workforce pipeline starts by giving young people the opportunity to experience what these careers actually look like," said Stephen White, Chief Strategy Officer at COSI. "When a student launches a rocket, builds a circuit, or works through an engineering challenge, they’re doing more than completing a science activity. They’re discovering how their interests and abilities can translate into careers that will shape the future."

Orlando is the third stop on the 10-city HIVE Workforce Initiative Roadshow, designed to build a pipeline that begins with curiosity in the classroom and can ultimately lead to roles supporting the nation's expanding space industry. Upcoming stops include Huntsville, Gulfport, Portland, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh.