Tag Archives: International Space Station

Unlikely links between school, space & war

Russia invades Ukraine, retreats from ISS Minnehaha’s annual space-station project may take new directions in future years Testing shark skin on bacteria growth, growing calcium carbonate crystals and trying to revive dried algae have all been experiments worked on and sent into space by the Minnehaha ISS (International Space Station) team. But with recent news …

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Tell Me About It – Season 1 Episode 4: Joy Reist

Tell Me About It Season 1, Episode 4: Joy Reist Host Ann Oakman interviews Chemistry teacher and International Space Station (ISS) Team Leader Joy Reist about the ISS Team’s 2022 experiment.

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ISS experiment goes ‘green’

Space Station class explores algae growth in microgravity The International Space Station (ISS) class, taught by Joy Reist and Tim Swanson, is currently growing spirulina algae in the science classroom. The algae is being tested on growth in microgravity.  “The International Space Station has high levels of carbon dioxide, and …

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Shooting for Mars

SpaceX has partially successful launch as the company makes steps toward interplanetary travel On December 8, 2020 in Cameron County, Texas, the SpaceX Starship SN8 successfully “ascended, transitioned propellant, and performed its landing flip maneuver with precise flap control to reach its landing point” before exploding upon landing due to …

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Building space projects and gardens during a pandemic

ISS team looks to tackle three projects this year Due to COVID-19 restrictions and social distance mandates, the International Space Station (ISS) class has faced challenges beyond the usual obstacle of designing an experiment to be conducted in space. In order to engage each student in the large class while …

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Growing crystals in space

Minnehaha ISS team growing crystals to combat kidney stones The 2019-2020 Minnehaha Academy International Space Station experiment will explore the condition of kidney stones by growing calcium carbonate crystals in space. Developing kidney stones is a common painful condition that is found in over 200,000 Americans per year. This years’ …

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Sending school work to space

Minnehaha ISS team prepares experiment for space The Minnehaha Academy ISS team is preparing an experiment to grow calcium carbonate crystals in space, with a launch date to the International Space Station scheduled for Feb. 7, 2020.  The team  of two teachers and 13 students is designing an experiment to …

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Sharks in Space

The 2014-15 International Space Station experiment will explore the effects of artificial shark skin on bacteria growth in microgravity, hoping to improve astronauts’ health conditions. The frigid and dry weather during the winter months takes a toll on the immune system, and anything from the common cold to the stomach …

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ISS launch delayed

International Space Station launch delayed The launch for Minnehaha’s International Space Station project, initially planned for early May, has been delayed until at least July 10 because of some errors with the last rocket launch, causing some problems for the class. “It’s frustrating, especially for the seniors,” said senior Poppy Anema …

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Year two in space, year one in class

Minnehaha’s International Space Station (ISS) team creates their experiment during class time On Feb. 25, NASA astronaut Dr. Tom Marshburn gave a presentation during Tuesday assembly period describing his three months and twenty-six days on the International Space Station (ISS). But for members of the Applied Research in Engineering (A.R.E.) …

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