iLEAD DreamUp to Space Launch Teams have formed and are in collaboration to send their experiments to Space!
Two teams comprising 16 learners are in the experiment optimization phase — preparing to send their experiments to the International Space Station. The goal of these teams is to prepare their experiments and engage in post-flight analysis once their experiments return. They will also use this experience to inspire and engage with the community — it’s a singular experience to send something to Space and have the opportunity to present at Kennedy Space Center prior to watching their experiments blast off!
Kathleen Fredette, Director of STEAM Initiatives, explained: “Experiment Optimization is the process each team goes through to determine the optimal experiment setup (on Earth) with the hope that the space-based experiment will result in some useful data. This will include several iterations of ground truth experiments, collecting and analyzing data, finalizing the material amounts for each mixstix, and composing the exact instructions for the astronauts.”
Their experiments seek to understand the effects of microgravity on Yucca glauca and Zostera marina (seagrass). The Team Yucca Principle Investigators–or authors of the experiments– are Carter Sand (10th grade) and Grace Stumpf (8th grade). Principle Investigators of Team Seagrass are twin sisters Teya and Caydin Brandes (5th grade).
For more information about each team, click here
This year’s mission was offered across all the iLEAD California sites and programs, as well as to all Maker Learning Network sites, through a virtual mission led by “Mission Control,” AKA Director of STEAM Initiatives, Kathleen Fredette, and Director of Mathematics, Amber Soto. We want to give a huge shoutout to facilitators and learners at iLEAD Lancaster Innovation Studios, SCVi, and iLEAD Agua Dulce, who ran the project in person.
These two experiments are targeted to launch to the International Space Station (ISS) with a targeted date of May 2022 on SpaceX 25.
