Scientists need to understand how plants grow in space, as astronauts on long missions will need to grow their own food. Plants also help produce oxygen and remove carbon dioxide aboard a spacecraft. Galindo's students, part of the Native American Science Association, have been invited to several universities and local elementary schools to talk to other students about their space experiments. Since its first flight in 1995, SEM has allowed tens of thousands of students in the United States and other countries to fly their experiments in space. In addition to studies of plant growth, they have been used in award-winning science fair projects that evaluated the optical effects of thin dust coatings on rocks.
Students also can compare the simulants' properties with actual soils of the Moon and Mars.
In the meantime, JSC Mars-1 is supporting a wide range of research, instrument design and engineering studies. Those interested in obtaining samples of either simulant should send their request to the Office of the Curator, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058. NASA has set very high standards and as a school we have met those standards. These simulants have a variety of scientific and educational benefits, Allen said. But perhaps the most important benefit of these artificial soils is that they offer people a tangible opportunity to get physically in touch with the exploration of space.