The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), the nonprofit organization managing research onboard the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory, congratulates Orbital Sciences on a successful launch of the Antares rocket and on the berthing of the Cygnus cargo vehicle to the International Space Station. Orbital’s successful mission also represents a milestone for CASIS: The first-ever CASIS-funded payloads have now arrived at the ISS. Orbital’s Cygnus cargo capsule berthed with the station Sunday morning.
In addition to fostering science and commercial payloads, CASIS is responsible for developing partnerships with organizations such as the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP), designed to bring young students closer to the ISS. On its maiden test flight, the Cygnus capsule transported three CASIS-funded education payloads from the SSEP. CASIS is a national partner for SSEP, whose mission is to energize students, grades 5 through 12, to design and propose real experiments to fly in low Earth orbit, onboard the ISS.
The CASIS educational vision is to use the discovery potential of the ISS to create a generation empowered to build a better future for humankind. Through CASIS funding, the following three student investigations were launched:
San Marino High School
San Marino, CA
Grade 11
Fibroblast Division in Microgravity
The purpose of their experiment is to observe the effect of microgravity on cell division and to compare the rates of cell division in the absence and presence of gravity, which is dependent on the number of cells produced. The cells that were chosen to experiment with are fibroblasts, which play a critical role in the healing of wounds. With the data from their experiment, they hope to improve the conditions of future life in space as well as to further our current scientific knowledge.
Howard Phifer Middle School
Pennasauken, New Jersey
Grade 8
The Effects of Microgravity on Eggshells and Vinegar
Does eggshell disintegration rate in vinegar differ in the presence of gravity and microgravity to infer the damage acids will have against our teeth in space? The resulting information can help in the development of dental products in order to protect teeth from acidic foods while in space.
A.R. Turner, C.C. Hardy, and Parmley Elementary Schools
Willis, Texas
Grade 5
Germination of Cabbage Seed
Students here want to test Savoy cabbage in space and see if the seeds will germinate more fervently. They believe this would be good for astronauts and agricultural companies because it would give astronauts and consumers more nutrients and a fresh source of produce.
“Today marks a significant and historic moment for CASIS, with our first funded payloads reaching the ISS,” said CASIS executive director, Col. Gregory H. Johnson. “It is also fitting that our first funded research that is investigated on the ISS comes from student inquiry, as one of the main goals for CASIS is to promote STEM initiatives that will incite the minds of tomorrow’s scientific leaders. In the coming months, we look forward to additional payloads being sent to station that will demonstrate the broad scientific scope that CASIS seeks to utilize all throughout humankind’s greatest technical platform.”
Additionally, the first CASIS-sponsored software was uploaded to the ISS National Lab. Windows on Earth, developed by TERC, will enhance and adapt software for astronauts replacing the previous multi-step process for targeting, photographing and geo-referencing images from the ISS.
Orbital Sciences is currently slated to send additional CASIS-sponsored research inquiries to the ISS as early as December.
