(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Initiative supported by Cubes in Space will study growth of mould in space
Dubai — A Dubai-based Grade 10 student will soon see his science project rocket to space as part of a special initiative supported by Cubes in Space and Nasa.
Rohan Kapur from Delhi Private School Sharjah made the cut from thousands of submissions after sending a proposal to grow mould in space and study the effects of micro gravity on his creation.
“For this experiment I will be presented with two cubes in which I am going to build my terrarium. In the first cube I will keep a lime and a piece of damp cotton inside an airtight plastic pouch. This will make mould grow slowly. By the time the cube experiences microgravity the question will remain whether or not the mould can survive in outer space. This can easily be tested when the cube returns to me in early September by performing surface tests or culture tests on the mould under the microscope” said Rohan.
Rohan has already tested his project in normal conditions recording the time temperature and vitals needed to grow the mould. His second cube will also attempt to study whether moulds could grow faster in space.
“The second experiment tests whether mould can actually grow in microgravity through a faster process using a piece of rotten bread instead of lime in the second cube. There will be pictures of the experiment taken to showcase whether the mould grows in outer space” he added.
The Cubes in Space initiative selects 80 experiments on a sounding rocket or research rocket and over 100 experiments on a high altitude balloon. Students are returned their payload to observe the effects of spaceflight on their experiment.
Interestingly teachers or coordinators don’t need to have a background in astronomy or engineering to facilitate the programme for students.
The flight scheduled for late June 2015 will carry the cubes in a sounding rocket (SR-2) and will be launched from Virginia USA.
According to Rohan his project aims to explore the possibility of astronauts growing their medicines through the growth of penicillin.