NASA for Students

Students drawing at a board

Go to the Students section of www.nasa.gov.

› Students

NASA for Educators

Multimedia resources for educators

Go to the Educator's section of www.nasa.gov.

› Educators

NASA Kids' Club

Cartoon astronaut with words NASA Kids' Club

Go to the Kids' Club section of www.nasa.gov.

› NASA Kids' Club

Introduction

    Plant growth will be an important part of space exploration in the future as NASA plans for long-duration missions to the moon. NASA scientists anticipate that astronauts may be able to grow plants on the moon, and the plants could be used to supplement meals.

    In anticipation of the need for research into lunar plant growth, NASA and the International Technology Education Association, or ITEA, present the NASA Engineering Design Challenge: Lunar Plant Growth Chamber. Elementary, middle and high school students design, build and evaluate lunar plant growth chambers -- while engaging in research- and standards-based learning experiences. Students participate in the engineering design process and learn how to conduct a scientific experiment.

    Choose from three ways to participate in the challenge:

         1. Design, Build and Evaluate a Chamber
         2. Design and Evaluate a Chamber
         3. Evaluate a Chamber

    Educators can order cinnamon basil seeds that have flown in space on the STS-118 space shuttle mission. Students can compare plants grown from both space-flown and Earth-based control seeds, and test the designs of the lunar plant growth chambers. Seeds will be available as long as supplies last.

    >  Join the challenge

Related Links

  • Bringing Home the Basil

    08.17.07 - Barbara Morgan carries millions of basil seeds to space and returns with millions more.

  • STS-118 Education Page

    See other educational opportunities associated with the STS-118 mission and the flight of the first Educator Astronaut.

  • Space Exploration

    Learn about America's plan to explore the moon, Mars and beyond.

Seeds in Space

  • Materials included in the EDC: Seeds in Space Kit

    Seeds in Space Kit  →

    Challenge students to design a plant growth chamber. Then use this kit to validate the design. The kit includes cinnamon basil seeds that were flown on the STS-118 space shuttle mission; a Liftoff to Learning: Plants in Space DVD; and other plant-related materials.

Multimedia Resources

  • Anderson looking at a plant growth chamber

    Growing Plants in an Extreme Environment

    A photo gallery of images follows astronaut Clay Anderson's experiment to grow basil plants on the International Space Station.

  • Astronaut Clayton Anderson prepares a plant growth chamber on the space station

    Growing the Future: Plants in Space Video

    Watch as astronauts on space shuttle mission STS-118 explain plant growth chambers that they are delivering to the International Space Station so crewmembers can grow plants in space.

  • Seeds in Space

    Basil Seeds Continue the Journey

    The cinnamon basil seeds that flew on STS-118 are being packaged at Park Seed Company in Greenwood, S.C.

  • Two students looking at large images of seeds

    Students Take Over

    Students test out their own ideas as part of NASA's Engineering Design Challenge to create a lunar plant growth chamber.

    › Read and Comment
  • Teachers working with an experiment

    Swinging for the Fence

    At the detention facility where he teaches, Daniel Loewen is using NASA projects to help students get their lives back on track.

    › Read and Comment
  • Five students holding a plant growth chamber made of water bottles and a clear plastic bowl

    Lunar Learning

    Students are helping NASA research ways that astronauts might grow plants on the moon.

  • A large plastic container of basil seeds is shown floating in front of the crew of STS-118

    STS-118 Basil Seeds on the Move

    The 10 million basil seeds that flew in space have moved one step closer to the classroom.