Winners Named in NASA “Kids in Micro-g” Challenge

February 3, 2011—What effects would microgravity have on a pendulum? Is the buoyancy of an object affected in a microgravity environment? You might guess the answer to those questions, but you would never know since creating a microgravity environment on earth isn’t possible for most 5th-8th graders. Yet those questions and others will be answered this spring when astronauts aboard the International Space Station conduct six experiments designed by middle school students from across the country. The winning proposals of the “Kids in Micro-g” Challenge are from California, Idaho, Montana, New York, Pennsylvania, and the state of Washington. Representatives from NASA centers selected the winners from among 62 proposals. The experiments, which will be conducted on the orbiting space station from March-May, will study the effect of weightlessness on various subjects and show what the environment reveals about the laws of physics. “This is a wonderful opportunity for these students to learn how scientists and astronauts work together to develop new technologies for space exploration and to learn more about how things work on Earth,” said Mark Severance, International Space Station National Laboratory Education projects manager at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The winning experiments came from students at these schools: Chabad Hebrew Academy in San Diego, for “Attracting Water Drops.” This experiment will determine if a free-floating water drop can be attracted to a static charged rubber exercise tube. Neighborhood After School Science Association in Ava, N.Y., for “Flight of Paper Rockets Launched by Air Cannon.” This experiment will determine the direction and distance traveled by a paper air rocket launched in microgravity. Key Peninsula Middle School in Lakebay, Wash., for “Pondering the Pendulum.” This experiment will examine the effects of microgravity on a pendulum. Potlatch Elementary in Potlatch, Idaho, for “Pepper Oil Surprise.” This experiment will investigate the interaction of liquid pepper/oil and water in a plastic bag in microgravity. Gate of Heaven School in Dallas, Penn., for “Buoyancy in Space.” This experiment will determine if the buoyancy of an object is affected in a microgravity environment. Will James Middle School in Billings, Mont., for “A Comparison of Dispersion of Liquid Pepper under Microgravity and Earth Conditions.” This experiment will compare the dispersal of liquid pepper in microgravity to Earth’s gravity. The apparatus for the experiments was constructed using the same materials as in a tool kit provided to astronauts on the space station. The materials in the kit are commonly found in the classroom and used for science demonstrations. The experiments will take no more than 30 minutes to set up, run and take down.

Astronaut Tracy Caldwell-Dyson performs the Kids in Micro-g Newton’s Space Office Experiment from East Hartford-Glastonbury Elementary Magnet School in East Hartford, Conn. in 2010. Photo credit: NASA Astronaut Doug Wheelock performs the Liquids in Microgravity experiment from the Virginia Academy in Ashburn, Va. In 2010. Photo credit: NASA Astronauts Shannon Walker and Tracy Caldwell-Dyson perform the Low Gravity Artist experiment from Windy Ridge School in Orlando, Fla. in 2010. Photo credit: NASA

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