Scarborough school prepares to plant rocket seeds after their journey through space

Scarborough's Pupil Referral Unit practice their horticultural skills as they prepare to grow seeds from outer space.To infinity and beyond.. pic Richard Ponter 160619f

PUPILS are preparing to become space biologists and embark on a voyage of discovery by growing seeds that have been into space.

In September, 2kg of rocket seeds were flown to the International Space Station where to spend months in microgravity before returning to Earth in March 2016.

The seeds have been sent as part of Rocket Science, an educational project launched by the RHS Campaign for School Gardening and the UK Space Agency.

Scarborough Pupil Referral Service (PRS) will be one of the chosen schools to receive a packet of 100 seeds from space. They will grow these alongside seeds which have not been into space to measure the differences over seven weeks. The pupils will not be told which packet contains which seeds until all results have been collected by the RHS Campaign for School Gardening.

Scarborough's Pupil Referral Unit practice their horticultural skills as they prepare to grow seeds from outer space.Working until the sun sets. Kevin Junior McHale prepares his cosmic challenge.. pic Richard Ponter 160619d

PRS science teacher Alexendra Vipurs said “We are very excited to be taking part in Rocket Science. This experiment is a fantastic way of teaching our pupils to think more scientifically and share their findings with the whole community.”

Rocket Science is just one educational project from a programme developed by the UK Space Agency to celebrate British ESA astronaut Tim Peake’s Principia mission to the ISS and inspire young people to look into careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects, including horticulture.

Applications to take part in Rocket Science are still open and will close in March next year or until all packs have been allocated. Schools and educational groups can apply at rhs.org.uk/schoolgardening.