NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

As NASA plans to return to the moon, plant growth will be an important part of space exploration. NASA scientists anticipate that astronauts may be able to grow plants on the moon in specialized plant growth chambers. Come participate and build your own lunar growth chamber in the NASA Engineering Design Challenge!

Image at right: STS-118 mission specialist Barbara Morgan floats with millions of basil seeds she carried to space as part of the Engineering Design Challenge. Credit: NASA

Through the NASA Engineering Design Challenge, elementary, middle and high school students will:

Design, build, and evaluate lunar plant growth chambers

Receive cinnamon basils seeds flown on STS-118

Test lunar growth chambers by growing and comparing both space-flown and earth-based control seeds

Visit http://www.nasa.gov/education/plantchallenge to register and to receive more information about the NASA Engineering Design Challenge. You can also sign up for the NASA Express listserv to receive e-mail updates about the challenge and other NASA education activities.

Join the NASA Engineering Design Challenge and be part of space exploration by growing seeds flown in space!


Lori Meggs (AI Signal Research, Inc.)
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center