The sky is no longer the limit for iLEAD Flex, a new, tuition-free TK–12 public charter school located in Lancaster, California. With two learner-led scientific investigations now aboard the International Space Station (ISS) National Lab, iLEAD Flex learners are demonstrating firsthand what happens when curiosity, hands-on inquiry, and real-world research collide.
From designing controlled microgravity experiments to presenting their findings before a live audience, these young scientists are helping address one of the most critical challenges of future deep-space exploration: sustainable agriculture in microgravity.
Space Botany in Orbit: Team Kale Leads the Charge
Pioneered entirely by learners from iLEAD Flex, DreamUp Team Kale is tackling a fundamental question in space farming: What is the effect of microgravity on the germination of Lacinato kale microgreens?
As space agencies plan for longer missions to the Moon and Mars, discovering efficient methods to grow fresh, nutrient-dense crops becomes essential for crew health and life support. While astronauts aboard the ISS conduct the germination trial in orbit, Team Kale is concurrently managing ground control experiments on Earth to compare morphological differences, growth rates, and structural adaptations.
Collaborative Innovation: Team Alfalfa Explores Crop Resilience
iLEAD Flex’s scientific reach extends further through its collaboration on DreamUp Launch Team Alfalfa. Working alongside peer researchers from iLEAD Exploration and iLEAD Agua Dulce, iLEAD Flex learners formulated an investigation examining the impact of microgravity on the germination of three distinct Medicago sativa (alfalfa) variants: UCAL2250, Ameristand 901TS, and Sholty.
After finalizing and optimizing their payload protocols in late September, the team ran synchronized terrestrial control groups while the ISS crew initiated the experiment in low Earth orbit.
Launching to the ISS and Taking the Stage
The culmination of months of rigorous preparation arrived in mid-October:
-
October 13: The experiments developed by both iLEAD Flex teams officially launched into space, arriving at the ISS National Lab to begin active orbital testing.
-
October 15: Just two days post-launch, researchers took the stage at the DreamUp to Space x STARward STEM Space Conference, delivering live presentations to a public audience detailing their hypotheses, engineering designs, and ground-control data models.
Through independent initiative and cross-campus teamwork, iLEAD Flex learners are not merely studying science—they are contributing meaningful, peer-level data to the global space botany community. Stay tuned as these young researchers analyze their orbital findings and share their results with the world.