Education Payload Operations - Kit C: Plant Growth Chambers (EPO-Kit C)
Research Area: Educational Demonstrations
Expedition(s): 15
Principal Investigator(s): ● Jonathan Neubauer, NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston,
Texas
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Education Payload Operations - Kit C Plant Growth Chambers (EPO-Kit C) is an in-orbit plant
growth investigation using basil seeds. The still and video imagery acquired is used as part of a
national engineering design challenge for students in grades K-12. Students 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.
EARTH BENEFITS
Using a new approach in the classroom on
spaceflight, science, and mathematics
captures the imagination of students.
Allowing students to participate in activities
that directly involve NASA inspires them to
pursue careers in science and engineering.
SPACE BENEFITS
Student participation in the design processes
for the EPO-Kit C activities prepares the next
generation of scientists and engineers.
RESULTS
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, the growth chambers were collapsed and
prepared for their trip home on STS-120.
Through the EPO-Kit C investigation, nearly 1 million students in grades K-12 participated in the
NASA Engineering Design Challenge Lunar Plant Growth Chamber. This engineering design
challenge asked students to design, build, and evaluate a plant growth chamber for future
missions to the moon. Students learned about the engineering design process and how to
conduct a scientific experiment. To get involved in this activity and to see video captured during
EPO-Kit C and EPO-Educator visit http://www.nasa.gov/education/plantchallenge.
This investigation is complete and all results are published.
Basil plants grown from seeds on Earth in a simple plant
growth chamber (opened). NASA’s Johnson Space Center
image.