Join the Challenge


    On this page:
    >  Register to Participate
    >  Background
    >  Safety
    >  Teach the Challenge
    >  Submit Feedback and Receive Certificate


    Register to Participate

    Seed Packets

    The Seeds in Space packet includes two envelopes of seeds: One contains space flown seeds, and the other contains seeds not flown in space. Image Credit: NASA

     Register online to participate in the NASA Engineering Design Challenge: Lunar Plant Growth Chamber. Students in grades K-12 will design, analyze, build and assess plant growth chambers that could be used on the moon. Registrants will receive a packet of cinnamon basil seeds that flew on the STS-118 space shuttle mission and a control packet of seeds that have not flown. The two sets of seeds will be used to evaluate the student-designed plant growth chamber. Sign up for the NASA Express listserv to receive e-mail messages about the challenge, updates to the challenge Web site and announcements about NASA education activities.

    The seeds will be available to the first 100,000 registrants. Please enter your mailing address accurately in the registration form. Your packets of seeds will be shipped to this address. Seed packets are only available for distribution to residents of the United States, U.S. Territories and Outlying Areas (American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Midway Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands).
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    Background

    What is a plant growth chamber, and why is it of interest to NASA? NASA is interested in facilities that support plant growth because plants will play an extraordinarily important role in allowing humans to explore destinations like the moon and Mars. The challenge faced by lunar farmers is that the moon has no atmosphere, no liquid water and no "normal" nutritional components in the soil. Under these inhospitable conditions, growing plants is a challenge.
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    Safety

    Safety is an important goal for all curricular areas of education. It is the responsibility of the school’s administration for providing a learning environment that is safe, up-to-date and supportive of learning. Additionally, teachers are responsible for their students’ welfare in the classroom and laboratory.
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    Teach the Challenge

    Here you will find information about the three ways to participate in the challenge. Review the brief descriptions and select the appropriate educator guide for your students. Choose from Moon Munchies for grades K-4, Packing Up for the Moon for grades 5-8 and Lunar Plant Growth Chamber for grades 9-12.
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    Submit Feedback and Receive Certificate

    NASA encourages educators to share feedback about the performance of the student plant growth chambers and the plant experiment. After completing the challenge activities, return to this page to answer questions about students' plant growth chamber design and to print your own NASA Engineering Design Challenge: Lunar Plant Growth Chamber Certificate of Participation.
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