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Experiment/Payload OverviewBrief Summary
Education Payload Operations - Kit C Plant Growth Chambers (EPO-Kit C) is an on-orbit plant growth investigation using basil seeds. The still and video imagery acquired will be used as part of a national engineering design challenge for students in grades K-12. Students will grow basil seeds (control and flown seeds) to conduct their own science experiments on plant growth using growth chambers created by the students on the ground.
Principal InvestigatorJohnson Space Center, Houston, TX
Sponsoring AgencyNational Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Expeditions Assigned|15|
Previous ISS MissionsExpedition 15 will be the first mission for EPO-Kit C.
Experiment/Payload Description
Research Summary
- EPO-Kit C is designed to increase the enthusiasm of students to pursue careers in sciences.
- On video, crewmembers will discuss plant growth from basil seeds in space and discuss the differences between plants grown on Earth and in space.
- Following return to Earth, the video will be edited and used for demonstrations to support curriculum materials that will be distributed to educators across the United States.
The excitement of space exploration is a sure way to catch the attention of students of all ages, and space biology is one of many sciences critical to understanding the spaceflight environment. However, many systems used in the past for space-to-classroom biology activities have required extensive crew time and material resources, making space-linked education logistically and financially difficult. The new Educational Payload Operations - Kit C (EPO-Kit C), however, aims to overcome some of the obstacles to space-linked education and outreach by dramatically reducing the resources required to conduct educational activities in plant space biology with a true spaceflight component.
EPO-Kit C was originally developed by ORBITEC as the Astro Garden, a miniature hobby garden designed for growing flowers, herbs, and small vegetable plants on orbit. The kit requires minimal resources, allowing its use for educational opportunities. Illumination is achieved via environmental lighting on the Space Shuttle or Space Station and watering is conducted manually via drink bags. Stowage of the entire kit requires less than 700 cm3; the garden itself could fit in a large pants pocket.
The EPO-Kit C payload will support the Educator Astronaut in their mission in orbit. Launched in 2004, the Educator Astronaut Project (EAP) exemplifies NASA's commitment to inspiring and motivating students and educators on a national scale. The program does this through a series of activities and initiatives based on astronaut training and the excitement of spaceflight. An Educator Astronaut is a full time astronaut who has experience teaching in K-12 classrooms.
On orbit, crewmembers will capture video of the transfer of 2, small collapsible growth chambers for EPO-Kit C. The video will include a discussion of the growth chambers by the crewmembers and will be used during Phase I and Phase II of the national engineering design challenge. The video will be distributed to education organizations to be incorporated into education products for students in grades K-12. Crewmembers will also conduct a 12-day to 21-day on orbit plant growth investigation using basil seeds. The plant growth inside the growth chambers will be documented with still digital imagery.
The main objective of the EAP is inspiring students to look at engineering, science, technology and mathematics as future career paths. EPO-Kit C will use investigations that are focused on inquiry-based learning. These investigations will be performed by students in ground-based studies. Students are also involved in design challenges that are directly tied to the payload. Part of this payload is developing activities for teachers, creating lesson plans for students K-12 and providing a website that will contain the data collection information.
Applications
Space Applications
The participation of the students in the design processes for the EPO-Kit C activities is preparing the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Earth ApplicationsUsing a new approach in the classroom on space flight, science, and mathematics will capture the imagination of students. Allowing students to participate in activities that directly involve NASA will inspire them to pursue careers in science and engineering.
Operations
Operational Requirements
EPO-Kit C will use video and digital still photography to capture data of payload activities on orbit. Part of this payload will take place in ground-based investigations that are designed and completed by students in classrooms.
Operational ProtocolsThe Educator Astronaut will perform on-orbit educational activities that will be provided to teachers and students in the form of video for classroom use.
Results/More Information
The EPO-Kit C, 20-day in orbit plant growth investigation was successful. The cinnamon basil seeds germinated in the microgravity environment and had some growth during the short investigation. Toward the end of the experiment, the plants appeared to have received more water than needed, causing them to slowly deteriorate. When the 20 days were up, Expedition 15 and 16 Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson collapsed the growth chambers and prepared them for their trip home on STS-120.
Through the EPO-Kit C and EPO-Educator investigations, nearly 1 million students in grades K-12 have participated in the NASA Engineering Design Challenge Lunar Plant Growth Chamber. This engineering design challenge asks students to design, build and evaluate a plant growth chamber for future missions to the Moon. Students learn about the engineering design process and how to conduct a scientific experiment. EPO-Kit C consisted of two small collapsible plant growth chambers and the associated hardware to conduct a 20-day plant growth experiment onboard the ISS using cinnamon basil seeds. In addition to EPO-Kit C, approximately 10 million cinnamon basil seeds were flown in space as part of the EPO-Educator. As part of a comprehensive suite of education activities, the seeds are being delivered to students and educators across the country. To get involved in this activity and to see video captured during EPO-Kit C and EPO-Educator visit www.nasa.gov/education/plantchallenge.
Related Web Sites
Publications
Results Publications
Related Publications
Images
Basil plants grown from seeds, on Earth, in a simple plant growth chamber (opened). Image courtesy of Johnson Space Center.+ View Larger Image
Basil plants grown from seeds, on Earth, in a simple plant growth chamber (closed). Image courtesy of Johnson Space Center.+ View Larger Image
Information Provided and Updated by the ISS Program Scientist's Office