Would you like to do a real science project with seeds that have spent time in space? Now you can! Grow some Space Radishes to your dinner table, and at the same time do a real scientific research and observe how conditions in space have affected the space seeds by comparing them to ones that have never left the Earth.
Our Cherry Belle Radish seeds were flown to space on October 16, 2016 in the NanoRacks Black Box experiment module, launched aboard the Orbital ATK Cygnus cargo vehicle, OA-5 mission, to the International Space Station. These seeds orbited the Earth at an altitude of 240 miles, exposed to microgravity and cosmic radiation for the duration of the mission, and returned to Earth aboard the SpaceX 10 capsule on March 19, 2017.
Space Seeds is a simple science project that ?involves you in several levels of scientific activity and inquiry. ?On one level, you are educated on what a plants needs to grow and survive, while being shown seeds at various stages of germination. You will also get to observe if changing the conditions of the seeds have an effect on them.
Space Seeds is created together with Edge of Space and Nanoracks.
Why radish seeds?
There are actually several reasons:
- Radish seeds are small enough that you can fly tens of thousands of them in a small space.
- On the other hand, the seeds are large enough for younger people to handle, if you would do this experience e.g. in a classroom.
- Radish seeds have a high germination rate (80+% of seeds germinate).
- The seeds have a quick germination time (within 24-48 hours of being planted/germinated).
- The seeds have also a fast growth rate (within a week they are mature enough to assess the plant’s structure, health, etc.) and fairly long lifespan (several weeks if properly planted and cared for – enabling long experiment times, if desired).
- For the Petri dishes: Layer the bottom of a Petri dish with two strips of paper towel. Wet the paper towel with water and pour off the excess. ?Place a few seeds in the dish and place the top on so that it fits tight. Place the Petri dish where it will be exposed to sunlight, such as a windowsill or countertop near a window.
- For the culture tubes: Fold thin strips of paper towel to insert snugly into a culture tube, covering half of the inside of the tube. Before inserting, place a few seeds in the middle of the paper towel strip, tapping down lightly so they stay in place. ?Gently slip the strip of paper towel into the culture tube. Fill gently with water and then pour off, allowing excess to drip out. Don?t allow water to pool in the bottom of the tube. Fix the stopper firmly on the tube and place where it will be exposed to sunlight, such as a window sill or countertop near a window. ?Make sure to lay the tube on its side, with the exposed to the light above.
- Check the seeds each day for germination. You should see signs of germination within 2-5 days.
- Once the seeds have germinated sufficiently, remove the stopper on the culture tube or the top of the Petri dish and allow air to enter. Sprinkle additional water over the paper towel as necessary to keep it moist, though do not soak. Maintain access to sunlight.
- After the seeds have grown for a few days, you may carefully remove them for planting in a larger, open container in moist soil. Carefully plant the seeds by covering the roots in a shallow layer of soil? and keep them moist! Cared for properly, they will grow into large, healthy plants for long term study.
- Experiment with different variables in growing the seeds, and in comparing the growth of seeds flown to space with the control group. Do they germinate at the same or different times? Do they grow at the same or different rates? Are there noticeable differences in appearance as they grow? Does replanting to soil cause differences in growth or appearance? Check the cell structure using a microscope to determine differences.
- What happens if you repeat the experiment in complete darkness instead of sunlight? There are many variables you can introduce into the experiment ? what can you think of yourself?
- Make sure you record your observations with a science notebook, with drawings, photographs, videos, etc.
Remember: ?You are conducting scientific investigations with living things that have actually experienced flight to space, and all the stresses that entails ? G-forces on acceleration and deceleration, weightlessness, exposure to radiation.
Congratulations! Soon you are an astrobiologist.
Interested in this project? Contacts us through firstname.lastname@example.org!