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Space Station Rocket Carrying Michigan School Students' Experiment Explodes [VIDEO]

MADISON HEIGHTS (WWJ) - Four students at Wilkinson Middle School were disappointed to learn that a rocket carrying their science project to the International Space Station exploded Tuesday evening.

The rocket exploded just six seconds after take off from a launch pad in Virginia.

Madison Heights Superintendent Randy Speck says the process of getting their experiment on board the rocket was a career highlight.

Speck said the eighth graders worked real hard on an experiment to test and measure possible solutions to contaminated water in zero gravity -- the idea being -- what if water on the space station becomes contaminated and how could you possible clean it?

"These four young ladies are all from Iraq - they've only been in this country over the last year and a half," said Speck. "They've overcome a lot of odds - their ability to preserve and to get this experiment designed and then have an opportunity for their experiment to be conducted on the International Space Station - is one of the coolest things I've ever been a part of in my educational career."

The students had been working on the project since February after winning a contest in the region -- the project idea was then sent on to NASA for approval in the launch.

Speck says even though the students are upset, they are proud that their project was on board.

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