SPOCSAT - Blog Posts

That’s a wrap! Thank you for all the fantastic questions!

Recent University of Idaho graduate Hannah Johnson and NASA’s STEM on Station activity Manager Becky Kamas answered your questions about our Student Payload Opportunity with Citizen Science (SPOCS).

Checkout their full Answer Time.

SPOCS helps fund student experiments and launches them to the International Space Station to conduct research. Learn more about SPOCS and this year’s student teams building experiments for space HERE.

If today’s Answer Time got you fired up, HERE are other ways you can get involved with NASA as a student. We have contests, challenges, internships, games, and more!

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com.

Questions coming up from….

@monicagellar: Is it open for international students?

@Anonymous: How should high school students get involved?

@Anonymous: Can I apply if my subjects are physics and chemistry in college

@unsuspicious-nobody: Do you have plans to repeat this/do something similar for students in the future?

Why are bacteria resistant polymers being experimented, specifically in microgravity?

What sparked your interest in science?

How are decisions made about what experiments are sent into space? Are there certain kinds of experiments that NASA wants to conduct every time cargo is launched to the ISS, or are there occasionally experiments that are duplicated for more observation and data collection?

I want to start an Astronomy club at my high school, and I was wondering if there were any opportunities within NASA that I can take advantage of for my club? Thanks!

Did you have mentors that helped you?

Questions coming up from….

@Dee-an-ugh-deactivated20210528: My 4-year-old is already interested in space. How can I nurture her interest the older she gets in a productive way

@marvelpjostarwarsobssessed: What inspired/caused your interest in space?

@Anonymous: Do you like your job?

How do you deal with/account for low/no gravity in space (ex. stuff floating around), if it's not a factor of the experiment? (I hope that makes sense? Words are hard)

I am interested in learning how to grow plants in space. How can I be involved in this as a college student, or independently?

Hi, I'm a 20 year old Aeronautical Engineering student, I live in Mexico, and I'm interested in getting involved in some way with NASA, my question is, what's the best way of doing this?

How long does each project take (approximately) . . . PS: you guys are so awesome >:D

When sending experiments to space, what is the most unexpected thing you have to think about? Like you're probably have to consider things like radiation damage, but what is something that isn't an immediately obvious issue that you have to account for?

What inspired you to attempt a SPOCS project?

What's a SPOC? Isn't that a star trek character?

Thank you for joining! It’s time to find out how YOU can get involved with NASA as a student or send your experiments to the International Space Station.

One of our experts today is Hannah Johnson, the team lead of a student group sending their experiment to the space station! She is joined by Becky Kamas, our lead for STEM on Station activities for students.

Between 12-1 p.m. EDT today, our experts will talk about about designing an experiment for microgravity, working with NASA to launch it to space, how you can join this initiative, and more!

View all answers HERE.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com.

Curious about how to send research to the International Space Station or how to get involved with NASA missions as a college student? Ask our experts!

Through our Student Payload Opportunity with Citizen Science, or SPOCS, we’re funding five college teams to build experiments for the International Space Station. The students are currently building their experiments focusing on bacteria resistance or sustainability research. Soon, these experiments will head to space on a SpaceX cargo launch! University of Idaho SPOCS team lead Hannah Johnson and NASA STEM on Station activity manager Becky Kamas will be taking your questions in an Answer Time session on Thurs., June 3, from 12-1 p.m. EDT here on our Tumblr! Make sure to ask your question now by visiting http://nasa.tumblr.com/ask. Hannah Johnson recently graduated from the University of Idaho with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. She is the team lead for the university’s SPOCS team, Vandal Voyagers I, designing an experiment to test bacteria-resistant polymers in microgravity. Becky Kamas is the activity manager for STEM on Station at our Johnson Space Center in Houston. She helps connect students and educators to the International Space Station through a variety of opportunities, similar to the ones that sparked her interest in working for NASA when she was a high school student. Student Payload Opportunity with Citizen Science Fun Facts:

Our scientists and engineers work with SPOCS students as mentors, and mission managers from Nanoracks help them prepare their experiments for operation aboard the space station.

The Vandal Voyagers I team has nine student members, six of whom just graduated from the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. Designing the experiment served as a senior capstone project.

The experiment tests polymer coatings on an aluminum 6061 substrate used for handles on the space station. These handles are used every day by astronauts to move throughout the space station and to hold themselves in place with their feet while they work.

The University of Idaho’s SPOCS project website includes regular project updates showing the process they followed while designing and testing the experiment.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com.