Check out these space images:

Space Engine

Image by Etahos
Space Engine 0.9.7.1

Girl Scouts Grow Greens (NASA, International Space Station, 07/10/14)

Image by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
In this image: A close up of the plant incubator in the NanoRacks-Girl Scouts of Hawai`i-Microgreen Plant Growth investigation. The light green material surrounding the planting medium is florist sponge. The planting medium is all natural bark and other plant fibers.

Excerpt from the article: Satellites, Girl Scouts and good ole Charlie Brown highlight Orbital Sciences Corporation’s second commercial resupply voyage to the International Space Station. The mission, Orbital-2, will both deliver new scientific investigations to the space station, as well as help build upon and expand prior studies.

One investigation launching on the Orbital-2 mission is NanoRacks-Girl Scouts of Hawai’i-Microgreen Plant Growth. The purpose of this study is to collect data on the viability of edible plants grown in microgravity, supporting further human space exploration by contributing to the future goal of maintaining an available supply of fresh produce for crew members.

The Girl Scouts of Hawaii researched and tested several different varieties of plants, ultimately choosing arugula microgreens to grow hydroponically in water, rather than in soil. Microgreens are herbs that are small in size, germinate quickly and can be harvested 10-15 days after sprouting, which are essential traits needed when working with limited growing space. The team proceeded to then design the incubator to hold the hydroponic system and the computer programming to enable the payload to operate remotely while on the space station. Both of these steps required the team to work together and implement design revisions and learn new skills, such as writing computer code.

In order to write the LED light code, the Girl Scouts had to determine which lights were most optimal for arugula microgreens. The team determined that a purple light frequency made up of red and blue would be the best choice. After implementing the computer code, an electrical interface board was designed using a computer software program called PCB Express. This program helped the team ensure that the electrical components were not going to interfere with the payload’s bracket, plant incubator or water bag. After some additional changes, the team was able to put together all of the components of the payload, slide them in the MicroLab and load all of the flight ready computer programming codes.

This investigation will not only be beneficial for space exploration, but it will also show how communities on Earth with little to no agricultural land and sunlight can grow edible plants in small spaces at relatively low costs.

Read full article:
www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/girl_sco…

Image credit: Girl Scouts of Hawaii

More about space station research:
www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/index.html

Flickr Album: Space Station Research Affects Lives:
www.flickr.com/photos/nasamarshall/sets/72157634178107799/

________________________________
These official NASA photographs are being made available for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photographs. The photographs may not be used in materials, advertisements, products, or promotions that in any way suggest approval or endorsement by NASA. All Images used must be credited. For information on usage rights please visit: www.nasa.gov/audience/formedia/features/MP_Photo_Guidelin…

Hurricane Earl (NASA, International Space Station Science, 08/30/10)

Image by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center
Editor’s Note: This is part of a small set of Hurricane Earl images seen from space: www.flickr.com/photos/28634332@N05/sets/72157624864258510/

Photographed by an Expedition 24 crew member on the International Space Station, this is an oblique view of the eye (just above center frame) of Hurricane Earl (at this time a category 4 but later downgraded to a category 3), centered just north of the Virgin Islands near 19.3 north latitude and 64.7 west longitude packing 115-kilometer winds. The photo was taken with a digital still camera using a 35mm lens.

View original image/caption:
spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-24/html/…

More about space station science:
www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/science/index.html

There’s a Flickr group about Space Station Science. Please feel welcome to join! www.flickr.com/groups/stationscience/