NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Imagery

Experiment Overview


Brief Summary

The primary objectives of the project are to increase student interest in space science and horticultural technology and to increase student familiarity and experience with research methodologies. Tomatosphere-III will send 600,000 tomato seeds to the International Space Station (ISS) for exposure to the space environment. The seeds will be returned to Earth for use in over 13,000 classrooms throughout Canada as a learning resource. Students will measure the germination rates, growth patterns and vigor of growth of the seeds.

Principal Investigator(s)

Jason Clement, Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Saint Hubert, Quebec, Canada

Co-Investigator(s)/Collaborator(s)

Information Pending

Developer(s)

Stokes Seeds, Buffalo, NY, United States
University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Heinz Canada, North York, Ontario, Canada
Heinz Seeds, Ontario, , Canada
Ontario Centres of Excellence, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Sponsoring Space Agency

Canadian Space Agency (CSA)

Sponsoring Organization

Information Pending

ISS Expedition Duration:

March 2009 - October 2013

Expeditions Assigned

19/20,27/28,29/30,31/32,33/34,35/36

Previous ISS Missions

Tomatosphere-II was performed during Expedition 9 as a part of the EPO investigation onboard the ISS.

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Experiment Description

Research Overview

• Tomatosphere-III will involve students in grades 3 - 10 across Canada in hands-on activities to examine differences in plant growth of tomato seeds.



• Seeds will be sent to the International Space Station (ISS) for exposure to the microgravity environment then returned to Earth. The students will plant the returned seeds exposed to the space environment as well as a control group and will make observations, record data and investigate the effect of space flight on seed germination rate, seedling vigor and other growth parameters.



• The objectives of Tomatosphere-III are to increase student interest and awareness related to space science, increase student experience with research methodologies and inspire them to pursue their studies and careers in science-related fields.

Description

Tomatosphere-III is an educational investigation involving more than 13,000 classrooms in Canada which uses the excitement of space exploration as a medium for teaching students about science, space, agriculture and the role being played by Canada in the support of long-term space flight. The Tomatosphere program began in 2001 and has expanded each year. In the spring of each year, classrooms conduct experiments to investigate the effects of the space environment on the growth of tomato seeds in support of long-duration human exploration, establishing a base on the Moon, and then to Mars.

The students' findings will begin to address the question of how we supply long-duration space exploration missions with the life support requirements of food, water, oxygen and the need to consume carbon dioxide exhaled by the crewmembers. Currently, space vehicles are able to carry just enough of these requirements to service the crew for short missions; supplies for long-duration crews on the International Space Station (ISS) are currently refreshed by visiting space vehicles.

Students will compare the rates of germination of the control group and the seeds exposed to the microgravity environment onboard the ISS and will report on the growth and development of the plants. Students will learn how to conduct a scientific experiment and may be inspired to pursue further education in the areas of science and technology. It is essential that we focus on the technical needs of ventures like the space program in order to motivate young people to pursue studies in science and technology. Not all students can become astronauts; however, many will be able to find significant, worthwhile roles in providing support for knowledge-based programs like those being developed by the Canadian Space Agency and others.

Tomatosphere-III educational units include:

• How to Feed a Martian (Grades 3 - 4): nutrition focus for astronauts' trips to the Red Planet


• Surviving on the Red Planet (Grade 6): Recycling breathable air


• The Martian environment (Grades 7 - 8): Weather station on Mars


• The Energy to Survive (Grades 9 - 10): Nutritional requirements for long-duration missions

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Applications

Space Applications

The goal of Tomatosphere-III is to evaluate the growth of space-exposed seeds compared to earth-grown seeds.

Earth Applications

This payload allows students to contribute to science at their level, thereby providing them with exposure to the scientific method and research methodologies, and serving to inspire them to pursue their studies and careers in science related fields in order to contribute as the next space generation.

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Operations

Operational Requirements

For Tomatosphere-III 600,000 vacuum packed tomato seeds will be sent to the ISS on the Space Shuttle.

Operational Protocols

The vacuum packed tomato seeds will be sent to the ISS via a Space Shuttle and remain onboard the ISS for a set duration. The seeds will then be returned to Earth for distribution to classrooms across Canada.

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Results/More Information

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Related Websites

Tomatosphere

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Imagery

During a previous Tomatosphere program, students studied the growth of their tomato plants in Miss Smith’s grade three class at Langley Fundamental Elementary, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The students took their plants home to grown in their gardens over the summer. Image credit: Tomatosphere.
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During a previous Tomatosphere program, students studied the growth of their tomato plants in Miss Smith’s grade three class at Langley Fundamental Elementary, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The students took their plants home to grown in their gardens over the summer. Image credit: Tomatosphere.
+ View Larger Image



+ View Larger Image