What Can I Research?

The beauty of space research is that it can be integrated into any part of a science curriculum. From biology to physics to computer science, you can research the impacts of a space and microgravity environment on projects in any scientific field. Space research doesn’t have to be restricted to a solitary space unit in the classroom. It can be integrated into a science curriculum all year long!

Project Inspiration

These are some examples of research done in space. How can you take part?

Biology and Biotechnology

Did you know biological processes can be dramatically different in space compared to on Earth? Help us better understand areas such as cell and tissue growth or microorganism development in microgravity!

Earth and Space Science

Space data is one of the most valuable resources when it comes to better understanding Earth. Study anything from glaciers to coral reefs to monitoring humanitarian crises.

Human Health

How will humans survive on Mars? Your space research can contribute to NASA’s biggest mission yet: bringing humans to Mars.

Physical Sciences

Uncover hidden aspects of physics and study how to create better materials for use on Earth and in space. Revolutionize the products that you use everyday!

Technology

We need next-gen technology for next-gen exploration. Test electronics, robotics, and futuristic materials to prepare humans for deep space travels.

Plant Sciences
& Biology

The ability of plants to provide a source of food and recycle carbon dioxide into breathable oxygen may prove critical for astronauts who will live in space for months at a time. In addition, plants provide a sense of well-being.

NASA and the European Space Agency, or ESA, are studying how plants adapt to micro- and low-gravity environments in a series of experiments designed to determine the ability of vegetation to provide a complete, sustainable, dependable and economical means for human life support in space. As researchers continue to gain new knowledge of how plants grow and develop at a molecular level, this insight also may lead to significant advances in agriculture production on Earth.

[Source: NASA]

Lakewood High School

Hydrofuge

How do you overcome the behavior of water in microgravity and how it creates root rot in a plant system? Water collects or clumps together in microgravity and the centrifuge concept Hydrofuge spins the plant to dissipate the collection of water around the roots that oversaturates.

Hydrofuge on ISS

See basil grown in space, inside a NanoLab

Lakewood Hydrofuge

Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart

Algae Production in Microgravity

Duchesne students studied how different wavelengths of light, representing different colors, affect photosynthesis in a species of algae in the space environment. If a preferred color is identified, people will be able to grow algae faster in space, which is useful considering algae can be very useful in producing fuel.

nanoracks-duchesne-light-wavelengths-on-algae-production4

SPRK: Schools, Parents, Robots, Kids

Partnered with Edge of Space, Sphero wants to know if your favorite BB8 robot works in space. Sphero’s education team has sought to find out how their robotics systems work in microgravity to better understand future technology in space (while also getting students excited!)

Sphero in Space

Click the SPRK to learn more!

sprk

 

Technology Drives
Exploration

Space technology advances the future of exploration, science and our understanding of the universe. Our students are helping NASA and professionals seeks to improve our ability to access and travel through space; land  in more locations throughout the solar system; live and work in deep space, and answer profound questions in earth and space sciences.

Fremont Christian School

Who doesn't love robots?

Thirteen students enrolled in a Space Engineering class at Fremont Christian studied the effects of microgravity on a remotely controlled micro-robot named PI (Programmable Intelligence).

Meet the students behind the project

nanoracks-awty-be-hdpe-rad-shielding3

St. Thomas More

The First Primary School CubeSat

All 400 students in pre-K to 8th grade participated in the design, building, and testing of STMSat-1. The satellite photographs Earth and transmits images back to Earth where St. Thomas More students share the images with more than 10,0000  grade school students around the world.

First Elementary School CubeSat

Deployed from ISS in May 2016

dreamup students

University of Central Florida

NanoRocks

Nanorocks flew to the ISS on Space-X 4 in early 2014. The experiment chamber consists of 8 sample cells containing different populations of micro-scale particles. The samples are periodically agitated to induce low-velocity collisions. This experiment studies the collisions at the formation of the solar system that eventually created the planets and other celestial objects, like planetary rings.

 

 

NanoRocks Experiment Tray

Click to watch experiment in action!

Earth &
Space Science

Our Earth and space environment are constantly changing. Space provides a unique vantage point to collect Earth hand space science data. Contribute to our understanding of the world we live in and the space environment around us. Students can study anything from glaciers and coral reefs to monitoring humanitarian crises or studying solar activity.

 

Before you get started, check out our hardware

Whether you are interested in making a Mixstix experiment, or using electronics and cameras in a Nanolab, there are a lot of important steps along the way. Check out our hardware, and then be sure to get in touch to get started!

Want Even More Ideas? We've got you covered.

Every single experiment we’ve launched to the Space Station via Nanoracks is listed with NASA. Click below to see the full scope – down to investigators, hypothesis, mission goals, and more.