Over the past decade, NASA has partnered with Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami, Florida to launch a groundbreaking program called Growing Beyond Earth (GBE). This innovative initiative brings authentic NASA research into classrooms worldwide, empowering students to contribute to real space science. The project's tenth anniversary marks an exciting milestone as nearly 1,250 middle and high school students from 71 schools across the globe joined in for a live session with Dr. Gioia Massa and Trent M. Smith, senior leaders of NASA Kennedy Space Center’s Space Crop Production team.
During this virtual connection, students learned about how their classroom experiments are helping NASA identify the best crops for future astronauts on long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars. The program allows students to use specially designed plant growth chambers to test various crops under conditions that mimic spacecraft environments, with data shared with NASA scientists who refine ongoing space crop production research.
The GBE project exemplifies the mission of NASA's Science Activation (SciAct) program, which aims to connect people with all ages and backgrounds in ways that activate minds and promote a deeper understanding of our world. By engaging students as active participants in cutting-edge research, projects like GBE cultivate curiosity, creativity, and confidence in the next generation of scientists and explorers.
Through this initiative, NASA's vision is brought closer to reality – to increase learners' active participation in the advancement of human knowledge. As Dr. Massa stated, "When students see themselves as part of NASA’s mission, they realize science isn’t something distant, it’s something they can do." Teacher Espy Rodriguez from Hialeah Senior High School echoed this sentiment, saying that GBE gave her students a real sense of community and made their projects matter.
The Growing Beyond Earth program is supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number 80NCCS2M0125. To learn more about Science Activation and how it connects NASA science experts with community leaders to do science in innovative ways, visit science.nasa.gov/learn/about-science-activation/.
During this virtual connection, students learned about how their classroom experiments are helping NASA identify the best crops for future astronauts on long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars. The program allows students to use specially designed plant growth chambers to test various crops under conditions that mimic spacecraft environments, with data shared with NASA scientists who refine ongoing space crop production research.
The GBE project exemplifies the mission of NASA's Science Activation (SciAct) program, which aims to connect people with all ages and backgrounds in ways that activate minds and promote a deeper understanding of our world. By engaging students as active participants in cutting-edge research, projects like GBE cultivate curiosity, creativity, and confidence in the next generation of scientists and explorers.
Through this initiative, NASA's vision is brought closer to reality – to increase learners' active participation in the advancement of human knowledge. As Dr. Massa stated, "When students see themselves as part of NASA’s mission, they realize science isn’t something distant, it’s something they can do." Teacher Espy Rodriguez from Hialeah Senior High School echoed this sentiment, saying that GBE gave her students a real sense of community and made their projects matter.
The Growing Beyond Earth program is supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number 80NCCS2M0125. To learn more about Science Activation and how it connects NASA science experts with community leaders to do science in innovative ways, visit science.nasa.gov/learn/about-science-activation/.
I'm loving this initiative! It's amazing that students get to be a part of real NASA research 
. Growing Beyond Earth is more than just a program - it's a movement to make STEM education accessible and fun for everyone 
. By giving students the chance to contribute to actual space science, we're shaping the next generation of scientists, innovators, and explorers 
. It's so cool that Dr. Massa said "When students see themselves as part of NASA’s mission, they realize science isn’t something distant, it’s something they can do." That's so true! 
This program is a shining example of how education can come together with innovation to inspire and empower young minds 
. I mean, why should we be limited by what's possible on Earth when we got the whole universe to explore? NASA's GBE program is a game-changer, and its cool to see the next gen of scientists and explorers being empowered to make a difference.
It's so cool that students get to contribute to actual space science and help NASA find the best crops for astronauts on long missions. I mean, who wouldn't want to be a space farmer? 
And it's awesome that they're not just talking about it in class, they're actually doing experiments and sharing data with scientists! That's like, real-life science awesomeness 
. We should encourage more partnerships between NASA and educational institutions to promote STEM learning 
.
I'm totally inspired by the teachers who are making this program work, like Espy Rodriguez from Hialeah Senior High School - she's killing it! 
.
.
.
I'm definitely feeling good vibes about this Growing Beyond Earth program 
Are the student experiments having a direct impact on NASA's mission or just a nice-to-have bonus?
! It's so cool that students from all over the world got to connect with NASA scientists and learn how their experiments can help with space missions 
. I love how they're making science feel more accessible and fun for young people, like it's something they can actually do too 
. And can we talk about how awesome it is that they have these plant growth chambers that mimic spacecraft environments? It's like they're growing the future of space travel right in their classrooms 
! Who wouldn't want their classroom experiments to help feed astronauts on Mars? It's like being part of the cool kid's club (NASA scientists). I mean, seriously though, it's awesome that students get to be actual participants in real research. No more just watching YouTube vids, they're making a difference 
is it really worth it? or are they just trying to boost some numbers and get some good PR out of it?
. I mean, think about it - like 10 years ago, the idea of students being able to participate in NASA research would've seemed like something straight out of Star Trek 
. It's like, okay, you think growing plants in space is cool? Well, here's your chance to make it happen! And on a bigger level, it's all about empowering kids to see themselves as part of something bigger than just their own classroom. They're not just learning science, they're contributing to the future of space exploration 
.
. NASA's vision is literally becoming a reality & I'm here for it!!! 
It just seems like a fancy excuse to get more kids involved in science. And don't even get me started on the tech costs – I mean, have you seen those plant growth chambers they use? They must be pretty expensive! 
Can you imagine being part of something that's actually going to help us send humans to Mars one day?! Mind blown 
. We need more programs like this to inspire the next gen of scientists and explorers! 
. keep doing what you're doing GBE, you're changing the future one seed at a time 