Our DreamUp experience for iLEAD learners has been an out-of-this-world adventure! Recently, learners from four iLEAD schools came together for a pivotal moment: loading their carefully designed experiments for their journey to the International Space Station (ISS). MixStix are mixture enclosure tubes that keep fluids, materials, chemicals, biological materials separate, then allow scientists to see how they mix in space.
This incredible opportunity allowed learners to engage in real scientific inquiry, exploring the fascinating effects of microgravity. The participating schools from the iLEAD California network of free public charter schools and their groundbreaking experiments included:
- iLEAD AV Team Moringa oleifera (Team Moringa): Studying the impact of microgravity on Moringa oleifera (malunggay) seeds.
- iLEAD Exploration Team Armadillidium vulgare (Team Pill Bugs): Questioning whether Armadillidium vulgare (pill bugs) can increase the pH of soil in microgravity.
- iLEAD Exploration Team Pleurotus eryngii (Team Myco-bots): Examining the effects of microgravity on the mycelium of Pleurotus eryngii (king trumpet mushrooms).
- iLEAD Lancaster Team Salix alba (Team White Willow Tree): Exploring the effect of microgravity on Salix alba (white willow tree) seeds.
- SCVi Team Phyllostachys edulis (Team Bamboo): Investigating the effects of microgravity on Phyllostachys edulis (bamboo) seeds.
These learner-designed experiments embarked on their journey aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket on April 21, 2025, launching from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The Cargo Dragon successfully docked with the ISS on April 22, 2025.
While astronauts on the ISS conducted the microgravity portion of the experiments, our dedicated iLEAD learners simultaneously performed the same experiments right here on Earth. This parallel investigation will allow them to directly compare their results and truly understand the unique influence of microgravity.
This DreamUp experience is a testament to the curiosity and ingenuity of our iLEAD learners. Stay tuned for updates on their findings!