Stedham Primary School grows space biologists with astronaut Tim Peake

Pupils at Stedham Primary School are preparing to become space biologists and embark on a voyage of discovery by growing seeds that have been into space.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Nov 2015, 12:11 BST

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

British astronaut Tim Peake poses beside spacesuits as he talks to UK media at the Science Museum, London, before being launched into space Picture by Anthony Devlin/PA WireBritish astronaut Tim Peake poses beside spacesuits as he talks to UK media at the Science Museum, London, before being launched into space Picture by Anthony Devlin/PA Wire
British astronaut Tim Peake poses beside spacesuits as he talks to UK media at the Science Museum, London, before being launched into space Picture by Anthony Devlin/PA Wire

In September, 2kg of rocket seeds were flown to the International Space Station (ISS) where they will spend several months in microgravity before returning to Earth in March 2016.

The seeds have been sent as part of Rocket Science, an educational project launched by the RHS Campaign for School Gardening and the UK Space Agency.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Headteacher Sally Dreckmann said: “We are very excited to be taking part in Rocket Science. This experiment is a fantastic way of teaching our children to think more scientifically and share their findings with the whole community.

“Stedham Primary School will be one of 10,000 schools to receive a packet of 100 seeds from space, which they will grow alongside seeds that haven’t been to space and measure the differences over seven weeks.

“The children won’t know which seed packet contains which seeds until all results have been collected by the RHS Campaign for School Gardening and analysed by professional biostatisticians.

“The out-of-this-world, nationwide science experiment will enable the children to think more about how we could preserve human life on another planet in the future, what astronauts need to survive long-term missions in space and the difficulties surrounding growing fresh food in challenging climates.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Rocket Science was developed by the UK Space Agency to celebrate European Space Agency astronaut Tim Peake’s Principia mission to the ISS and inspire young people to look into careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects, including horticulture.

On December 15, Tim Peake, who grew up in Westbourne and studied at Chichester High School for Boys, will launch in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft from Kazakhstan.

He will be conducting some 265 experiments aboard the ISS, including experiments on his own body which will help to investigate cures for various illnesses and diseases.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.midhurstandpetworth.co.uk/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MidhurstandPetworthObserver

3) Follow us on Twitter @mid_pet_obs

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Midhurst and Petworth Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Related topics:Tim PeakeEarth