Rocket Science
On September 23015, two kilograms of rocket seed blasted off from Baikonur Space Base in a
Russian Soyuz rocket and travelled to the International Space Station (ISS).
The seeds have been looked after in microgravity by British astronaut Tim Peake. They returned to
Earth in the Soyuz Module in April 2016 and we were one of the lucky schools chosen to take part in
the Rocket Science experiment.
Astronaut Tim Peake
Why do this experiment? Both America and China have plans for future manned bases on Mars, but
due to the length of the journey it may be impossible for the astronauts to return to Earth.
Therefore, food would need to be grown on the Red Planet. But will seeds which have been in zero
gravity germinate? We don’t know. Yet! Witney CPS is now part of an experiment to see if seeds
which have spent time in space will germinate and grow normally once they have returned to planetary
gravity. Our experiment might help the human race travel to other planets in the not too distant
future!
Artist’s impression of a Mars base
Rocket Science Experiment
Will seeds which have spent time in microgravity germinate and grow normally?
Method: We will grow two batches of seeds. One batch will have spent six months in space, while the
other batch will have stayed on Earth. We do not know which batch (colour coded red or blue) has
been on the International Space Station.
To make this a fair test all the seeds are grown in the same type of trays, in the same location, they
will have the same compost, they will be rotated to have the same amount of sunlight and they will
get the same amount of water.
Equipment:

5 x P40 modular seed trays

1 x 20 litre bag of compost (peat free to be environmentally friendly)

2 x 2 litre plastic milk bottles (to make recycled labels)

8 x trays

1 packet of space seeds

1 packet of Earth seeds
Prediction: We looked at the seeds carefully and thought that the blue packet seeds looked slightly
different colours and shapes. This made us think they were the ones which had been in space. We
also think that the seeds which have stayed on Earth will grow the best.