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| Space Experiment Module (SEM-07) |
| Payload Bay |
| Overview |
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The following eleven experiments will be flying on STS-88 as part of NASA’s Space Experiment Module program which is managed by the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD. The SEM program is an educational initiative to increase student access to space. Kindergarten through University students can participate. Eight of the eleven experiments were provided by teachers and their schools, participating in the NASA Educational Workshop for Mathematics, Science and Technology (NEWMAST) Program. "Mariposa Express" NEWMAST: Lyme (VT) School (K-8 grade) and Thomas J. Quirk Middle School (7-8 grade) Hartford, CT. The purpose of the experiment is to compare the growth of butterfly garden seeds exposed to the space environment to ground control samples. Samples will be measured and the students will perform statistical analysis on data collected. "SNAP-CRACKLE-POP" NEWMAST: Norwood (Mass.) Jr. High School; Thayer Academy, Braintree, MA; Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School, South Yarmouth, MA.; and Woodstock (CT) Academy. There are three passive experiments contained within the module. Experiment #1 will study the volume and porousness of bread baked with dry, inactive yeast when exposed to the space environment. The second experiment will study the effects of the launch and space environment on the longevity and intensity of light bulbs. The third experiment will examine the appearance, weight, volume and popping time of different types of popcorn that has been exposed to the space environment. "A Nutty Idea" NEWMAST: F. H. Tuttle Middle School, South Burlington, VT and The Gilbert School, Winsted, CT The purpose of this experiment is to determine the effects of microgravity and temperature extremes on various brands of peanut butter. Students will microscopically examine, measure viscosity, and conduct qualitative visual, spreadability, and aroma tests on the samples before and after flight. "Bubble Lab Adds Science and Technology (BLAST)"and "Silly Putty Longevity and Applicability Testing (SPLAT)" NEWMAST: Oakcrest High School, Mays Landing, NJ and William Penn High School, York, PA The module will contain two passive experiments. The first experiment, BLAST, will examine the effects of the launch and space environment on the longevity, size and quantity bubbles. The other experiment, SPLAT, will study the effects of the space environment on physical characteristics such as texture and composition, elasticity, image transfer capability, and bounceability of silly putty. "Maine's Agricultural Industry NEWMAST Experiment (MAINE)" NEWMAST: Maine School Administration District 54; Brewer School District and Maine Indian Education Experiment #1 of 2 passive experiments will study the effect of the space environment (microgravity, radiation, and extreme temperatures) on the germination and growth of pine tree seeds. The other experiment will examine water samples for standard quality test parameters such as pH, hardness, dissolved oxygen levels and carbon dioxide levels. "Growing Mold Together" H.E.L.P. (Horntown (VA) Educational Learning Project) The purpose of this experiment is to study mold growth on common fresh foods exposed to the space environment versus those on Earth. Eleven vials will contain food initially contaminated with mold, and the other eleven vials will contain fresh foods. "Effects of Space Travel on Soil Micro-Structure: Redistribution of Mineral Species and Organics" Accomack County Schools TAG (K-3) and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William and Mary Wachapreague, VA Students in grades 1-3 will seek to determine the effect of space travel on soil micros-structure by investigating the redistribution of minerals and organic matter in constructed soils. The purpose of this experiment is to evaluate the impact of variable "gravity" forces and the space environment on the structure of soils, and the implications which that might have for horticulture in space. "Space Science and Technology Collaboration" NEWMAST: Spartanburg (SC) High School, and North Greene High School, Greeneville, TN This module contains two passive experiments. The first experiment will contain solar voltaic cells to investigate available solar energy . The second experiment will contain vials of sand representative of all 24 NEWMAST teachers and their students. Students will study sand composition, density and magnetic properties of sand before and after flight. "SHARP Experiments" NASA Summer High School Apprenticeship Research Program (SHARP) NASA Space Scholars Club Students participating in the SHARP Program at Wallops Flight Facility, (Wallops Island, VA) will submit different samples from which to study the effect of space environment. Experiments include water based paint, gelatin, chlorophyll, magnets, seeds, film and computer disks. "Effects of Space Travel on 22 ALNICO Cylindrical Magnets" NEWMAST: Harbor Creek High School (7-12), Harbor Creek Pennsylvania and Arsenal Middle School (6-8), Pittsburgh, PA This experiment will study the effect of the Earth's magnetic field and the space environment on 11 vials of Alnico magnets. The students will examine the magnetic field shape and strength. "Getting to the Heart of the Matter" NEWMAST: Betsy Ross Arts Magnet School, New Haven, CT; Woodland High School, Long Island, NY; Saugerties (NY) High School; Bethpage (NY) High School; Elizabethport (NJ) Catholic School; Glen Ridge (NJ) High School; and Neptune (NJ) Middle School. This experiment has been created to observe the effect of the space environment on the behavior and density of various liquids. A density column experiment will be performed on four different liquids (corn oil, tinted blue water, glycerin and brown corn syrup). Mass, volume, and calculated densities will be compared before and after flight. A second experiment with vials containing water and delrin beads will perform a vertical sorting experiment. |
| History/Background |
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The SEM-07 utilizes a standard 5 cubic-foot GAS canister with a Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)-provided internal support structure, battery, power distribution system, data sampling and storage devices, and harness. It will be mounted on an SSP/JSC-provided adaptor beam in Bay 13, port side, forward position. SEM-07 will be PASSIVE. There will be no batteries or power supplied by the Orbiter. NASA began the Space Experiment Module (SEM) program in 1995 as an offshoot of the Getaway Special program, managed by the Shuttle Small Payloads Project at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Since 1982, GAS canisters had flown on the shuttle, offering economic access to space to a broader array of experimenters, particularly students. But participation was still somewhat limited by the high-level engineering skills required to design GAS experiments. In 1995, the program directors started SEM to relieve students of the engineering burden and let them concentrate on creating their experiments. Since the module is equipped with electrical power, there is no need to engineer and build battery boxes, etc. Students of all ages can create, design, and build experiments with a little help from teachers or mentors. The experiments--which can be simple or complicated, active or passive--are placed in half-moon-shaped SEMs, ten of which are then stacked in a GAS canister. More information the Space Experiment Module Program can be found at http://sspp.gsfc.nasa.gov/sem/sem.html . |
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