(WSBT) Students and teachers in Pulaski County launched an out-of-this-world science lesson Tuesday.

When the Space Shuttle Discovery blasted off from Kennedy Space Center, so did flower seeds belonging to students from Eastern Pulaski and West Central School corporations.

The schools were among about 100 nationwide selected to take part in the program.

Astronauts will try to grow the seeds in space, and then send them back where students will be able to examine them.

"We're a small school so something like this is astronomical, I guess you could say," said high school senior Ashley Podell.

"It's amazing," said eighth grader Alyssa Garnett. "Being able to share this experience is really cool."

Students, teachers, and administrators also signed a poster that flew into space Tuesday.

When Discovery returns, both school corporations will get a certificate from NASA that the signatures flew in space.

They'll also get a photo of the shuttle crew and the returned poster.