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Hi, I'm Bowie. I am in Ms. Schwartz's fourth grade class at Temple Elementary School in Silver Spring, Maryland.

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Hi, we read on the internet that you're participating in a NASA project with Space Seeds.

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Yes, we are growing Arabidopsis plants.

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What are Arabidopsis plants?

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They are more commonly known as mustard weed.

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It has a life cycle of six weeks from seed to seed.

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It is easy to grow in small places. Also, it produces a lot of seeds.

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That makes it a great test plant to be grown in space.

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How do you get Space Seeds?

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We participate in a NASA experiment through a company called Space Explorers, Inc.

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They get the seeds from NASA and distribute to teachers who have signed up for the program.

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Why does NASA want children to grow the Space Seeds on Earth?

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Whenever you are doing an experiment, you have to have a control group.

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We grow the plants as the control group for the experiment on the International Space Station.

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We learn about controls from the scientific method.

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We measure the plants as they grow and keep accurate records.

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This gives NASA a reference point of normal growth and reproduction

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to compare with the plants grown on the International Space Station.

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Why is that important?

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Scientists need to make sure that the plants are growing and producing just like they do on Earth.

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Is there anything else that the plants do for the astronauts in space?

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Yes, they create a bioregenerative life support system.

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What is that?

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It's a system that uses plants rather than machines.

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The plants release oxygen, help recycle drinking water, and create water vapor through transpiration.

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Just like Mr. Gruner mentioned.

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We definitely need a bioregenerative system in our habitat.

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Thanks for helping us.

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You're welcome!

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And good luck on your project!