Pupils on a mission to plant space seeds
SCHOOL pupils hope their crops will be out of this world as they prepare to plant seeds from space.
The students at Broken Cross Primary Academy are getting ready for launch on a project which involves growing seeds that have been in space with astronaut Tim Peake.
A total of 2kg of rocket seeds have been on the International Space Station in microgravity for six months and Major Peake, who is living on board with a team of astronauts, has been looking after them as part of his Principia mission, which involves carrying out experiments to help future space missions.
The seeds are now back on Earth and selected schools are being given the chance to grow some as part of a project to see how being in space has affected them.
The school will take a delivery of 100 seeds on April 18.
The children will grow them alongside rocket seeds which have not been in space to compare any differences in how they grow.
Sarah Porro, science co- ordinator who has been leading the project, said: “The children have a unique and exciting opportunity to be one of a small number of schools across the UK to be involved in a live science experiment to help scientists understand how we might one day grow food in space.
“The seeds are now back on Earth. Major Peake wants us to plant the seeds that have been in orbit and compare their growth with normal plants.
“We are excited to know the results.”
The children will observe, measure and record their findings over a period of six weeks and send their data to be analysed by the Royal Horticultural Society, which has joined forces with the UK Space Agency to run the educational project that will give around half a million UK children the chance to become space biologists.
Mrs Porro said: “Space has been the theme for the last term and the whole school is actively involved in following Tim Peake on his Principia mission aboard the International Space Station.
“We watched the live launch and were part of the good luck messages sent to Tim.
“There are lots of exciting learning opportunities, learning about space and human spaceflight. The children have also completed Principia space diaries.
“Growing the seeds is yet another great opportunity for the school.”
‘We are excited to know the results’