Lake Forest Science Teacher's Experiments Launch to the ISS

From Lake Forest to Orbit

• 👩‍🏫 Dr. Lauren Aiken, a science teacher from Lake Forest, is sending experiments to the International Space Station (ISS).
• 🤝 The project is a cross-country collaboration with another teacher, Mrs. Nin in Troy, Michigan.

The Duckweed Experiment

• 🌱 The core experiment involves growing duckweed, a tiny plant with significant traditional and medicinal value.
• 🔬 The experiment is housed in a 'CubeSat' and will be launched to the ISS on April 21st.
• 🧑‍🚀 Astronauts on the ISS will follow a protocol to care for the duckweed, and a sample will be preserved in formaldehyde to stop growth for later analysis.

Data Collection and Analysis

• 📊 Back on Earth, the experiment will be replicated in classrooms in Michigan and California.
• 🧪 Samples will be sent to Dr. Mon Gilroy's lab in Madison, Wisconsin, for data collection and comparison.
• 🌌 The goal is to understand how duckweed grows in the absence of gravity, which is crucial for long-duration space missions.

Significance for Space Exploration

• 🚀 The research aims to determine if duckweed can be a viable source of nutrition or medicinal value for astronauts on extended missions.
• 🛰️ This is important because resupply missions are costly, making in-situ resource utilization essential.

Opportunities for Educators

• 🏫 The ISS National Lab and organizations like Space For Teachers provide avenues for classrooms to send experiments to space.
• 💡 Teachers can participate in programs like 'STeM Lab' which involve parabolic flights to simulate microgravity conditions.
• 💰 Fundraising efforts are underway to support these educational initiatives, with opportunities to donate via SpaceForTeachers.org.