Your Students Can Send Seeds to Space

Epsori Space Systems announced today that its Free Seeds Experiment will be flying aboard the Up Aerospace SL-2 launch, scheduled for Saturday, April 28 th 2007 . Epsori Space Systems will distribute the experiment to 2500 classrooms in the fall of 2007. The payload contains 22 ounces of mixed vegetable seeds. Teachers in grades 3-5 will be offered a free experiment along with approved curriculum, student workbooks, and packages of seeds that have flown into space. The experiment allows students to compare the growth of seeds in a control group, to the growth of the space seeds. Students are taught classic techniques of scientific observation and record keeping during the experiment’s two week execution.

Epsori Space Systems executives believe its pioneering approach of flying experiments to space to teach fundamental science skills in the classroom provides a fun way to connect children with space science. Quoting Jerry Hilburn, founder of Epsori Space Systems:

By placing seeds which have flown into space in the hands of our children, we engage their minds, excite their hearts, and make science fun!

Teachers are encouraged to visit the site to learn more about the experiment. Epsori is now accepting applications from teachers for the free program.

Epsori Space Systems was founded in 2007 with the mission of delivering affordable space based experiments to classrooms across America . Based in the heart of the New Space industry in Southern California , Epsori plans to launch thousands of experiments onboard emerging New Space commercial spacecraft in coming years. Up Aerospace is the first “public access to space” company to provide a low cost method of placing our experiments in space. Quoting co-founder, Joshua Johnson, “We are excited to be onboard SL-2 and look forward to flying payloads with Up Aerospace for many years to come”. Epsori Space Systems will launch a new social network website for teachers and students in September, which will provide a platform for reporting experiences, research findings, classroom photography, and video content of the experiments execution. Distribution of the seeds experiment will begin September 1st , 2007 .

The Epsori Space Systems media team will attend the launch in New Mexico on Saturday, April 28th, to record videos of the event and interviews of key participants. All news, photos, and videos will be posted at www.epsori.com and ilovephysics.com will provide coverage, as well.

A car that runs on water (sort of)

Edmund Scientific recently asked me to review some products for them, so the first item I picked was one I’ve had my eye on for years: a hydrogen fuel cell model car. Recently I wrote an article about advances in fuel cell catalyst technology, so fuel cells are an interest of mine that may one day find a way into my research.

The model car Edmunds sent me is manufactured by Heliocentris. It is the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Model Car Demo kit and comes with a solar module, a reversible proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell (operates as both an electrolyzer and a fuel cell), and a car chassis with electric motor. Its operation is simple: you fill the fuel-cell with water, plug it into the solar panel, and the electricity generated by the panel electrolyzes the water, forming hydrogen and oxygen gas. Once you’ve made enough gas, you plug the fuel-cell into the car. The hydrogen and oxygen recombine producing a current that powers the electric motor making the car move.

I’ve had a lot of fun with this item, and I have lots of plans for it. Specifically, I’m using it as a demo during an upcoming talk on fuel-cell catalysts, I’m working with a student at a local high school on a Virginia Junior Academy of Science project involving PEM fuel cells, and I’m developing a presentation on basic fuel cell technology and energy for a group of fifth graders at an area elementary school. Needless to say, I find this toy useful and incredibly fun. It runs on water! Sort of. (You do need a little solar energy to make hydrogen gas, and technically the car runs on hydrogen. But whatever.)

A short video demonstrating the operation of the car is provided after the jump along with a more detailed review and purchasing information.
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