The Space Chile Grow a Pepper Plant Challenge

Astrobotany Initiative

  • Status: Active
  • Location: Global
  • Orgs Involved: NASA, NASA KSC
  • Program Lead: Jacob Torres
  • Focus Area: Astrobotany Education, Citizen Science
  • Dates: 2020 – Present
  • Goal: To have citizen scientists grow a spicy pepper plant in a controlled environment and submit data to research scientists at KSC. 

Summary

How to PARTICIPATE in the challenge:
 
  • Send an email to KSC-grow-peppers@mail.nasa.gov.  Provide an address and Chimayo pepper seeds will be sent to you.
  • While you are waiting for your seeds: decide which growth method is best for you: a pot and soil (easy), APH style (in a growth media), or hydroponic cup (intermediate/hard). I recommend that you try multiple methods. See Examples on the challenge Facebook page.
  • Follow the instructions to prepare your experiment.
  • Plant your seeds.
  • Document your experiment and post progress reports on the Space Chile Grow a Pepper Plant Challenge Facebook page.
  • Report your data: Your data is so important! It’s a survey, easy and fun. Each space farmer should submit (at least) one survey for an individual plant grown, ideally for the plant you took the sample from. You are welcome to submit as many plants as you like, as long as it’s honest data Copy and Paste this link into a browser
  • Red or green, mail one sample (1 pepper) to UNM for capsaicin analysis.
  • Help for using this in your class is available from our friends at the Growing Beyond Earth Program.

See also: