Principal Investigator: David Libby
Affiliation: T E R C
This project seeks to create a series of videos showcasing Earth from space that will be integrated into multiple online platforms and channels to support STEM education programming to help students and the public learn about Earth from this unique orbital perspective.

Principal Investigator: Alia Almansoori
Affiliation: The Boeing Company
Heat shock proteins are a family of chaperon proteins that are induced as a result of different kinds of stress such as physical, chemical or environmental. Their induction provokes a protective role that hinders the cell from undergoing apoptosis or cell death. Under stressful conditions the cells elevates the levels of different heat shock proteins that will work to stop different apoptotic proteins. Since astronauts are highly subjected to different kinds of stress (cosmic radiation, microgravity, etc.), their heat shock response will initiate, but will it be able to offer the ultimate protection after prolonged exposure? This study is novel because the efficiency of heat shock proteins hasn’t been studied in humans after a prolonged exposure to cosmic radiation and microgravity. Whether astronauts are protected or not with all the stress their cells face is to be determined. Experiment will use a model organism (C. elegans) and investigate if protein HSP70 gene is expressed.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Alvar Saenz Otero
Affiliation: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites: Zero Robotics (SPHERES-Zero-Robotics) investigation establishes an opportunity for high school students to design research for the ISS. As part of a competition, students write algorithms for the SPHERES satellites to accomplish tasks relevant to future space missions. The algorithms are tested by the SPHERES team and the best designs are selected for the competition to operate the SPHERES satellites onboard the ISS.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Alvar Saenz Otero
Affiliation: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Synchronized Position Hold, Engage, Reorient, Experimental Satellites: Zero Robotics (SPHERES-Zero-Robotics) investigation establishes an opportunity for high school students to design research for the ISS. As part of a competition, students write algorithms for the SPHERES satellites to accomplish tasks relevant to future space missions. The algorithms are tested by the SPHERES team and the best designs are selected for the competition to operate the SPHERES satellites onboard the ISS

Principal Investigator: Shanna Atzmiller
Affiliation: Bell Middle School
Student experiment titled Vermicomposting in a closed system.

Principal Investigator: Joel Bertelsen
Affiliation: Chatfield Senior High School
Student experiment titled How microgravity affects the growth rate of hydrogen-producing algae.

Principal Investigator: Ann Jorss
Affiliation: First the Seed Foundation
Tomatosphere is an educational program started in 1999 in which students investigate how the space environment affects tomato plant growth. Each participating class is sent two packages of tomato seeds: one package of seeds that has been sent into space and one package of control seeds that have not been in space. Students and teachers compare the germination rates of the two groups of seeds, not knowing which seeds went to space and which are the control seeds. This project will provide transportation of 1.2 million seeds to and from the ISS (the seeds will remain in orbit between 10 and 60 days). The project will also include monitoring and data tracking (temperature, humidity, and pressure) for both the seeds sent to the ISS and the control seeds.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Sandra Rogers
Affiliation: Boy Scouts of America
Student experiment titled Effect of Radiation on Salmonella Bacteria.

Principal Investigator: Norman McFarland
Affiliation: Boy Scouts of America
Student experiment titled The Impact of Infrared Spectrometer on Alzheimer’s beta-amyloid Peptide.

Principal Investigator: Patricia Tribe
Affiliation: T2 Science and Math Education Consultants
This STEM education project includes videotapes of astronauts reading selected stories from the cupola of the ISS and conducting simple physics demonstrations that complement the STEM concepts in the books. As part of the project, award-winning author Dr. Jeffrey Bennett and Astronaut Alvin Drew have written a children’s book based on the ISS, “Max Goes to the Space Station.” Other STFS activities will include professional development and lesson plans for educators and a planetarium show that can be used in science centers across the country.