In an experiment funded by NASA, students are growing cinnamon basil seeds that were sent into space aboard the shuttle Endeavour on mission STS 118 in August 2007 in order to see if the seeds were affected by spending time in a weightless environment. The “space seeds” were grown next to “earth seeds” that were left in climate-controlled storage in Greenwood, South Carolina while the others were in space. The students collected data for three weeks as the space seeds and earth seeds grew side by side. 

As a second part to the experiment, the students grew beans, peas and squash in simulated soil that is likely to be found on Mars. 

“It’s really interesting to see these things grow, even with all of the differences between here and out in space,” said senior Kayla Roberts. “So far, there’s not much of a difference between the Earth seeds and the space seeds.”

While the space seeds were thriving in the classroom, the seeds in the simulated Mars soil did not fare as well. 

“Nothing has happened so far.  The seeds aren’t growing in the Mars soil,” said Sarah Lokey, also a senior. “It really is a phenomenon to realize it could be possible to live in space. It’ll be cool to see if we can grow food out there.”

A third aspect to the project was for the students to design a Lunar Plant Growth Chamber that would support plant growth on the moon. A system of solar panels, vacuums, pipes and gas movement was created by Roberts, Lokey and Stephanie Rowland that could use light from the sun and gases from space to help grow plants, which would in turn give off oxygen to sustain life in a Lunar Research Facility, the girls explained.

“Long term space exploration will need to be creative in order to sustain astronauts for long periods of time in hostile environments,” Kuenzel said.  “We need to figure out something, because it costs $10,000 to send one pound of food into space.  The Native Americans used the buffalo for food, clothing and shelter.  We need to figure out what we can use in space that is already there.”

The project was initiated by NASA and has been sent to numerous schools around the United States to collect data and give feedback to the scientists at NASA.  The initiative is to involve students in the thought process and creativity of space exploration.