10 Years of Students Helping NASA Grow Space Food with Growing Beyond Earth
For a decade, students from classrooms around the world have played a vital role in NASA’s efforts to grow food for space missions through the Growing Beyond Earth (GBE) program. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the initiative, which has engaged nearly 1,250 middle and high school students from 71 schools globally. These students connected directly with NASA scientists during a live event hosted by Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, gaining insight into how their experiments contribute to feeding astronauts on long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars.
During the live chat, NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Space Crop Production team leaders, Dr. Gioia Massa and Trent M. Smith, shared firsthand how student data helps NASA identify the best crops for space travel. One teacher expressed how motivating it is for students to realize their classroom work could influence what astronauts eat in space, highlighting the real-world impact of their contributions.
Connecting Classrooms with NASA Science Through Growing Beyond Earth
The Growing Beyond Earth program, led by Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami, Florida, brings authentic NASA research into classrooms in a unique and engaging way. For over ten years, this 83-acre garden, known for its conservation and education efforts, has collaborated closely with NASA to advance knowledge about food production in space environments.
Students participate by using specially designed plant growth chambers that simulate conditions aboard spacecraft. They test how various crops perform under these conditions and share their collected data with NASA scientists. This information helps refine NASA’s ongoing research into space crop production. Since the program began, more than 120,000 students across over 800 classrooms have tested upwards of 250 plant cultivars. Impressively, five of these student-tested crops have already been grown aboard the International Space Station.
Cultivating the Future STEM Workforce Through 10 Years of Students’ Participation
Growing Beyond Earth exemplifies the goals of NASA’s Science Activation (SciAct) program, which aims to connect NASA science with learners of all ages and backgrounds. SciAct’s vision is to increase active participation in advancing human knowledge by engaging people in meaningful scientific experiences. By involving students as active contributors to cutting-edge research, GBE not only supports NASA’s mission but also fosters curiosity, creativity, and confidence in future scientists and explorers.
Dr. Massa emphasized that when students see themselves as part of NASA’s mission, science becomes accessible and personal rather than distant. Teacher Espy Rodriguez from Hialeah Senior High School noted that the program gave her students a real sense of community, despite being geographically far apart. Through growing plants, analyzing data, and sharing results with NASA, these students are helping humanity prepare for life beyond Earth. Their work proves that the seeds of tomorrow’s discoveries are being planted today in classrooms worldwide.
Supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number 80NCCS2M0125, Growing Beyond Earth is a key part of NASA’s Science Activation portfolio. The program connects NASA science experts, real scientific content, and community leaders to inspire deeper understanding of our world and beyond. To learn more about how Science Activation promotes engagement with NASA science, visit https://science.nasa.gov/learn/about-science-activation/ or explore the Growing Beyond Earth program at www.fairchildgarden.org/gbe.
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Source: original article.