Explore the Classroom ready resources below
Welcome to Mission Sprouts!
Welcome to Mission Sprouts!
Let’s get started!
Download your mission guide →
Discover more around plants in space
Explore the science in your classroom
Growing plants in space
Primary Reflection Prompt:
Brainstorm: What do we use plants for here on Earth? (food, fuel, medicine, fibers, culture, wellbeing).
Can you think of any plants that have multiple uses? For example, strawberries provide us vitamins andbring us joy through appealing colours and flavours.
Discuss: if you could bring one plant with you on a space mission, what would you bring and why?
Brainstorm: What do humans need to survive (and thrive) on a long-term mission to space? From essentials like food and water, to social inclusion and entertainment, make a list of everything you can think of.
How many of the ‘needs’ on your list could be fulfilled by plants? Discuss the differences between relying on cargo resupply from Earth versus using ‘regenerative’ resources on long missions.
Discuss: if you could bring one plant with you on a space mission, what would you bring and why?
Secondary Reflection Prompt:
Gravity and light
Primary Reflection Prompt:
Brainstorm: What are some of the ‘signals’ that tell a plant which way to grow? (root cells, light, nutrients)
Discuss: During your experiment, will you be (accidentally or on purpose) giving your seeds any of these signals? How can you make sure they are the same to ensure a fair test?
Discuss: During your experiment, how will you control the growth variables such as light and nutrients to ensure a fair test?
Are there applications on Earth where artificial lighting could be useful for farming? Compare the potential benefits with the risks/costs.
Optional: Propose an extension to your seed experiment where you intentionally change one of the variables seen in the video. How will you change it, and what do you predict will happen to your plant growth as a result?
Secondary Reflection Prompt:
Farming with robots
Primary Reflection Prompt:
Brainstorm: Based on the video, what sorts of jobs could robots help with on a farm? (germination, irrigation, harvesting, data/decision-making)
Discussion: How could these technologies benefit a farmer? Can you think of any risks of using robots for certain tasks?
Discussion: Compare and contrast how an autonomous farming system might help…
An astronaut living on the Moon
A farmer living in a remote part of Australia
Consider the tasks they might do, the features they would have, and the benefits to each user.
Are there any elements of your own experiment that could be automated? Discuss how you might go about doing this.
Secondary Reflection Prompt:
From Needs to Seeds: Designing Plants for the Future
Explore how plants can be reimagined to meet human needs on Earth and in space. Using the Plants for Space Story Cards, students are encouraged to think creatively, tackle real-world challenges and design innovative ways to grow, adapt and use plants for a more sustainable future.
Gravity Lab: Growing Plants in simulated Microgravity
Take your plant experiments to the next level! Using the Clinostat Build Guide and Simulated Microgravity Experiment Protocol, students can build their own clinostat to simulate aspects of microgravity and investigate how plants respond to changing gravitational cues.
What why is up: The SCIENCE behind Growing Plants
Discover how plants know which way is up! The Root Cell – Science Reader explores the fascinating role of statocytes in helping plants sense gravity and direct their growth, while introducing students to a real Plants for Space researcher investigating how plants grow beyond Earth.
Plants for Space: Exploring Science Through Inquiry
Bring plant science into the classroom with the Australian Academy of Science Year 7 Unit. Through curriculum-aligned investigations, students can explore plant biology, scientific inquiry and the challenges of growing plants for the future. For more hands-on activities, experiments and classroom inspiration, explore the Plants for Space Education Resources
Mission Sprouts is made possible by
Continue the journey with additional kits
LaunchLabz Mission Sprouts – Classroom Seed Pack
INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF SCIENTISTS WITH REAL SPACE-FLIGHT RESEARCH!
The LaunchLabz Mission Sprouts Classroom Seed Pack gives teachers/educators the opportunity to bring authentic Australian space science directly into the classroom. Students compare white clover seeds that travelled to the International Space Station with genetically identical Earth-grown control seeds, investigating how the space environment may influence germination and early plant growth.
Designed to support whole-class investigations, the pack includes 2 x sets of space and Earth seeds along with 4 x reusable growth measurement cards, allowing student groups to collect, compare and analyse their own scientific data while practising the skills of real researchers.
Perfect for primary and secondary classrooms, STEM clubs, science outreach programs and school laboratories, this resource encourages inquiry-based learning, experimental design, data collection and scientific communication.
Important: This Classroom Seed Pack is supplied for educational use only. It is not for individual resale, redistribution, or commercial use.
What's Included
2 × ISS space-flown white clover seed packets (~60-80 seeds per packet)
2 × Earth-grown control white clover seed packets (~60-80 seeds per packet)
4 × reusable Growth Measurement Cards
Digital Resources Included
Mission Guides
Curriculum-aligned lesson materials
Short science crash-course videos
Student worksheets and extension activities
Experiment recording sheets
Data analysis resources
Ideal for teachers looking to bring real Australian space research into their classrooms while engaging students in authentic scientific investigations inspired by experiments conducted aboard the International Space Station.
Shipped in Trackable Envelope.
Grow real space science at home, in the classroom, or anywhere curiosity takes you!
LaunchLabz Mission Sprouts (Perlite + Vermiculate) gives young scientists and curious minds the unique opportunity to recreate a genuine spaceflight experiment using seeds that have travelled to the International Space Station. Compare space-flown white clover seeds with identical Earth-grown control seeds and investigate how the space environment may influence germination and early plant growth.
Using sterile, lightweight Perlite + Vermiculate as the growing medium, you'll design your own investigation, record observations, test different variables, and compare your results with data from a real 2023 space mission.
Perfect for at home, classrooms, STEM clubs, and future astronauts, Mission Sprouts transforms real space research into an engaging hands-on experiments.
What's Included:
2 x ISS space-flown white clover seeds (~60-80 seeds per packet)
2 x Earth control white clover seeds (~60-80 seeds per packet)
Perlite growing medium
Vermiculate growing medium
Eight experiment vials
2 x Pipette
2 x Tweezers
2 x Gloves
2 x Safety mask
2 x Growth measurement card
Digital assets include online and downloadable Mission Guide, crash course videos and extension worksheets and activities.