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Several Student-Led Experiments To Fly On Endeavour

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the one-for-hte-road dept.

Phoghat writes "STS-134, the final flight of the space shuttle Endeavour – is set to carry several experiments of students from the middle school, high school and collegiate levels. Two of these payloads are sponsored by the NASA Florida. The first experiment is one that could provide some guidance on future long-duration space flight missions, it deals with seed germination. As missions take astronauts further and further away from Earth, they will need to be able to produce their own food. Learning everything possible about the effects of micro-gravity on seeds therefore is viewed as relevant and important research. Another experiment, one comprised of squid embryos is being spearheaded by the University of Florida and will research the physiological impact of the micro-gravity environment on the animal's growth and development."

4 of 39 comments (clear)

  1. Space Chicken by somersault · · Score: 3, Funny

    This space chicken tastes just like squid!

    --
    which is totally what she said
  2. Electricity from a Potato.... by amliebsch · · Score: 3, Funny

    In *space!*

    --
    If you don't know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else.
  3. Really? by Yvan256 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Is it only for the benefits of the students, or are you telling me that NASA waited until the very last shuttle launch to test something as important as seed germination in space?

    And now, for the Slashdot cliché: screw the damn squids, they'll come back as giant evil overlords because of the space radiation or something...

    1. Re:Really? by DerekLyons · · Score: 3

      Is it only for the benefits of the students, or are you telling me that NASA waited until the very last shuttle launch to test something as important as seed germination in space?

      It's not NASA studying seed germination, it's the students performing a [largely meaningless] "experiment".
       
      NASA does love this kind of "experiment" though - because all they have to do is toss the packet of seeds in the back of a locker and ignore them. Teachers love this kind of "experiment" too because it gives the appearance of doing Serious Science without requiring too much work.