Does Microgravity Affect the Growth of a Glycine max Plant?

1. Does Microgravity Affect the Growth of a Glycine max Plant? Principal Investigator: Josh Ebesugawa Waiakea Intermediate School Hilo, Hawaii

2. The Problem: • High cost involved in sending an astronaut into space • In 2016, Russia will charge NASA $71,000,000 to transport one astronaut to the ISS • Space food • Needs to be treated prior to being transported into space • Very little fresh food is taken into space; needs to be eaten within the first few days in order to prevent spoilage • High cost involved in preparing space food.

3. The Research Reason: • Plants can grow in space, however we are not good at it yet. Plants face many challenges: • Exposing plants to sufficient light is difficult • Circulating the nutrients through the roots of the plant is challenging • More research is necessary to determine the most effective and efficient ways to germinate seeds and grow plants in space • Fresh food for astronauts • Fresh food available at all times during missions • Less food will need to be transported into space • More space on shuttle for other necessities • Shuttles could be designed smaller and to be more efficient

4. Benefits of Glycine max (Soybeans): • Soybeans are the only plants that contain a complete protein • Soybeans are a good source of calcium • The astronauts need a calcium rich diet due to the lack of gravity. This causes the bones and muscles to become weak thus the need for calcium. • Soybeans are high in fiber and protein • Soybeans contain many vitamins and minerals • Soybeans are not difficult to grow and they only take on average 3 months from planting to harvesting. The Envy variety only takes 75 days to bear fruit

5. The Experiment: Materials for 1 tube (5 tubes total, 1 experiment, 4 control) 3 Glycine max seeds, approximately 1.5 mL each 3.10 mL of sterilized soil 1.03 mL of fertilizer (equal parts of peat moss, vermiculite, and perlite Deionized water 1 tube 2 clamps Pipette Scale Notebook Sharpie green and blue 2 zip-ties Green and blue tape

6. Conclusions: • There were no significant changes in any of the 15 Glycine max seeds • No seeds germinated • There may have been an insufficient amount of water • There may have been enough water for one or two seeds to germinate, but not for three seeds • There may not have been enough space in the tubes for the seeds to germinate • There may have been problems with the soil and/or fertilizer. • The proportion of soil to fertilizer may not have been conducive to seed germination. • Impact: • Researching plant growth in microgravity is a worthwhile investment of our time and resources • The long term benefits of this research will have a positive and lasting effect on the advancements in space exploration

7. Acknowledgements: • Lead: Waiakea Intermediate School • Hawaii Public Schools, Hilo/Waiakea Complex • Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS) • National Center for Earth and Space Science Education • Big Island Toyota • County of Hawaii, Department of Research and Development • Hawaii Island Economic Development Board, Inc. • Thirty Meter Telescope • Ben Franklin Crafts/Hilo Ace Hardware • To all Partner Institutions, “Mahalo Nui Loa.”