Student Names: Eliana, Akshara, Eva, and Jasmine
While Mars is similar to Earth in some ways it is also different in many others. Such as having a decrease in gravity, which could lead to a loss in bone density and muscle mass. Or while in space, where there is no gravity, this could lead to fluids concentrating in the upper regions of a body leading to complications like kidney stones due to lack of hydration or too much blood in your brain. There are different exercises that can be done to help prevent the muscles in the human body from being affected in negative ways, when in space/on Mars.
Our goal was to find out a way to maintain your muscle mass in space/mars for both women and men, or even just to slow down the deterioration of muscle mass.
The goal of our project was to find the ideal footwear that would protect astronauts' feet in a microgravity environment.
We eventually came up with an experiment to test the effectiveness of different exercises in simulation to low/no gravity using alternatives in which Earth's natural gravitational pull would have very little impact. Our focus was maintaining muscle mass as through our research we have discovered that the drug bisphosphonate could be used to decrease the loss of bone density.
How did you use what you learned in grade 9 science in the design?
Before we started the space camp project, we learned that tables and graphs are very useful to display data in a simple way. Thus, when conducting the experiment we used a table to record results. Eventually when it came time to display the results we ended up using a bar graph to make the results clearer. Another thing we used is the base knowledge of outer space and Mars as there has been class conversations before hand. We used our knowledge from those lessons and further research in our project. Specifically how low/no gravity affects muscle mass.
Here is a link to our science fair Instagram post
Astronauts use their feet as hands in space, hooking them onto spaces to stay on spot. With space decreasing bone density this can cause a lot of pain to an astronaut's foot.
We followed a Microsoft Hacking STEM Experiment to code microsensors onto a sock and transfer the results onto a spreadsheet. This was to test the pressure points from different areas of the foot in hopes to mitigate the pressure in space.
How did you use what you learned in grade 9 science in the design?
We applied what we've learned in the electricity unit in the design. We used that knowledge when we had to work with wires to build the pressure sensors. We learned about the different variables in a science experiment and we were able to identify them in our own experiment. It helped us a lot when we were making a chart to record the results.
Here is a link to our science fair Instagram post →
As a part of our experiment we put together a set of four exercises (two for each female/male, one legs one arms).
The experiment started with the participants testing their strength within their legs (holding a wall-sit until they drop) and arms (holding a banded pull-apart until they drop). Within a span of five days, each participant was required to do their set of exercises. We then tested them once more at the end of five days to record the improvements. We also had two participants for testing only. These testing participants did the testing exercises (the wall-sit and the banded pull-apart) at the beginning of our experiment (day 0) and at the end of our experiment (day 5). The results from the testing participants were used to compare with the results from the other participants who did the exercises and testing, for us to understand the effects of the exercises.
Legs
Banded squat holds [hold for 20 secs, rest for 10 secs] [10 rounds]
→ band will be around the thighs [may lower to ankles for added resistance]
→ rather supporting your weight on your own you will be sitting in a chair
Banded Glute Kickbacks [5 reps, each side] [5 rounds]
→ band will be around ankles
Arms
Banded pull apart [10 reps] [3 rounds]
→ holding the band, must have strong resistance
→ arms stay extended and are pulled apart
Banded Tricep Pulls [10 reps] [3 rounds]
→ holding the band, must have strong resistance
→ pull the arms apart and towards the shoulder (similar to a pushup)
→ also assists in back muscles
Arms → Banded Pull Back
Arms → Improvement ≈ 57.1%
Legs → Banded Glute Kickbacks
Legs → Improvement ≈ 15%
Arms → Banded Bicep Curls
Arms → Improvement ≈ 48.8%
Legs → Banded Squat Hold
Legs → Regressed ≈ 40.9%
Arms → Banded Pull Back
→ Improvement ≈ 35.1%
Legs → Banded Glute Kickback
→ Improvement ≈ 49.2%
Arms → Banded Bicep Curls
→ Regressed ≈ 33.88%
Legs → Banded Squat Holds
→ Improvement ≈ 31.7%
Arms → Improvement ≈ 12.5%
Legs → Regressed ≈ 50%
Arms → Improvement ≈ 23.9%
Legs → Improvement ≈ 2.5%
Our experiment was to build 'boots' our of various materials to test which one would lessen the pressure on the foot the most. The plan was to make and test 5 different boots: Cardboard, bubble wrap (big), bubble wrap (small), cotton balls, bubble wrap (big) + cotton balls.
To test each boot, Eva sat on a chair wearing the Astro Sock and 'boot' being tested. She hooked that foot under the bar of the space gym and Jasmine pulled the chair back so that Eva drags the weighted space gym with her. The image below demonstrates what was done to test each 'boot' that we had time for.
Unfortunately, because of many, many technical difficulties, we did not have sufficient time to test all of our 'boot' models. We only got around to testing two 'boots' and just the Astro Sock with no protection.
We also made a bar graph to see how each 'boot' (or lack thereof) compares to the other.
Here it shows that the bubble wrap (big) is overall the most protective, however, if all 'boots' were tested, this conclusion could change.
How successful was your action (its OK if it didn't go as planned)? Did you meet your goal?
Our action wasn't as successful as we had originally planned, and through many changes and bouncing ideas, we ended up with an action that worked rather well. We ended up meeting our goal (finding out which exercises proved more effective). For the females, we successfully determined which exercises would be more beneficial for maintaining muscle mass, and the same applied for the males.
What contributed to your groups success (or lack of success)?
Our action/experiment was successful to a certain point but would've had more success if we had more days to test, and if we had more participants to test. This is because our teams goal was partly to find the effectiveness of different exercises and compare the exercises that targeted similar areas. While we succeeded in that, we could've gotten more accurate results if we had more people to test (therefore finding an average) and more time to do trials. What contributed to our groups success despite the setbacks is our communications and flow of ideas that we bounced off each other. Our discussions were always effective, as it led to us getting more and better ideas, which in the end, led to our group's success.
What would you do differently if you could?
If we could have the chance to do something differently, we would move fast when testing participants for the exercises. I think that we were moving a little slow and we were also getting stuck/confused easily when testing the participants at the beginning. Although this makes sense since it was only at the beginning of when we started testing participants, I think we would've finished the testing earlier in a more efficient and quicker way if we took a minute to plan out our steps one by one.
How does your project fit or connect with the other projects in the class? Are we living sustainably on your chosen planet.
Our project connects to the other projects in the class as muscle mass is one of the factors that keeps our bodies moving and functioning. Therefore maintaining muscle mass is important as then humans will be able to live in a safer environment and be able to still move effectively if they were to return to Earth. This would also benefit other projects that require human strength.
How does your project fit or connect with the other projects in the class? Are we living sustainably on your chosen planet.
Our project doesn't necessarily connect with the other projects in the class because the other groups are mainly designing or testing items that would be used on Mars. We as a class are missing one key aspect if we are trying to build a sustainable space camp on Mars, which is the equipment needed on the spacecraft to keep the crew safe and healthy during the long 7 month flight. The Astro Sock and 'Boots' were designed to protect astronauts' feet when they are in the spacecraft since they use their feet to hook onto spaces. I think the Astro Socks will be able to fill in the missing part of this project, since getting to Mars is the first step to living on it sustainably.
How successful was your action (its OK if it didn't go as planned)? Did you meet your goal?
Our project wasn't the most successful, but it did mostly meet the goal of getting the pressure sensors to work, however we weren't able to finish all of the trials on time.
What contributed to your groups success (or lack of success)?
It didn't go as well as we expected because in the beginning we were too focused on working as a team, so we mainly worked together and barely did any independent work. For example, we built the sensors together, but one of us really needed to be working on it and the other could've been building the cardboard gym. Later on, we realized that the code wasn't working for us, so we had spent a few too many work periods trying to figure what was wrong with it, and as a result we neglected building the 'boots' and weren't able to follow the plan and do the trials on time.
What would you do differently if you could?
When we weren't able to figure out what was going on with the microbit, we could've just moved on and started putting together other equipment that was needed for the trials, such as the "boot" that we would be putting on top of the Astro Sock to test which material would make the best footwear for astronauts.
For any future groups of students interested in picking up where we left off, our idea for a next phase (feel free to pick, choose, and edit) would be to expand the list of exercises along with extending the time period for testing. You could even add different low to no gravity simulations or add exercises for target different areas of the body. This would help you get more results that are consistent, and it would also be easier for you to find improvements in the strengths of the participants. Finding how to prevent the human body from losing muscle mass and bone density will be a very significant thing, if people are on Mars and need to stay physically healthy. Thus, this experiment could/would be very effective when considering the health aspect of travelling to and living on Mars. We would love to see a future group continue with our project and add to it in different ways to get better or potentially even different results.
The next step for the Astro Sock project is to continue to work on finishing all the trials, so we can compare the effectiveness of different boots with more consistent and accurate data. It would also be a great idea to design actual boots that astronaut could wear while traveling in space using the result of the trials. Future students should definitely consider doing this project because they can work on an experiment that involves both designing and testing. They will also be able to have a deeper understanding on what is needed to be done so humans can travel safely in a microgravity environment, as well as the affects of this kind of environment on human body.
Eliana: I've learnt quite a bit during this project. I've learnt that every moment counts when it comes to big group projects like this one. Especially with all the sessions broken up. It is important to stay on track and work efficiently. Along the road there were a few bumps, such as having issues with figuring out how to do our experiment or being able to find participants. But once we started to get used to what needed to get done there was more of an effectiveness in how everything ran. One way that I've discovered for working efficiently is communicating properly. While there were times where an idea was miscommunicated, rather than getting frustrated we were able to talk it out and discover the root of the miscommunication. Clarifying the issue and giving everyone a better picture. While sometimes you can figure out a problem by yourself, when it comes to group projects it's not always the case. I've learnt to be patient when it comes to explaining my ideas as not everyone has the same thought patterns, and that getting frustrated doesn't help to solve the problem. Communicating with others isn’t the only thing that I have learnt about during this project. I have also learnt how to effectively communicate experiment results. Sometimes how you originally record results isn’t the easiest way to get your point across. When we started, our results were recorded in a table; but when putting everything together for the website and Instagram post we realized that perhaps a table wasn’t the most effective way. Not everyone might understand what the point of the table was for, nor fully understanding what it meant. And so after a discussion we ended up with a bar graph. In another effort to help the experiments run smoothly we assigned roles for each other. This way we were able to get multiple things done at once. This was another point where communication came in. While we were working on separate things it was important we were talking to each other to make sure we both had input. This way our work was up to everyone’s satisfaction. So in conclusion I’ve learnt that while there are many things that are required for a successful group project, communication is truly the key.
Akshara: I personally learned a lot during this project. Firstly, I learned and understood the importance of communication and time management when working on the space camp project. This is a group project and communication is one key to success when working as a group with people. I usually don't prefer working in groups, as I like my own space and I like to plan stuff in a way where it works for me. I think this project has helped me understand how to efficiently work as a team, in a way where everyone knows what they are doing and what the others are doing as well. Our group basically split into two teams for the astro socks and exercises experiment, but I think we worked well together in our teams. I also understand the importance of time management, now, when working in groups. When I work alone, I can work at my own pace and whatever I get done or don't get done is my own responsibility, and my actions affect myself. But in this case, everybody has to work in a way where things get done efficiently and everybody is getting their parts done. This project had been stressful at times, when a lot of things are supposed to be completed and everybody's all over the place, but once again, working and discussing with my group members helped me get through this. When speaking about science, I think I learned that using bar graphs would be a good and simple way to represent data. The data for our exercises experiment was a little complicated, as we had results for males and females, and within those results, we had exercises for the arms and exercises for the legs. I thought it would be hard to add all of that data in an organized way to a graph, but choosing to do a bar graph made things easier for me. I believe that it was easy to add the data to the bar graphs, and I also think the viewers would be able to understand the data in our bar graphs. In conclusion, I have learned a lot during this project, and I think that I will be able to use this knowledge in the future, as well.
Eva: During the course of this project, I’ve learned a few things. The main one, I’d say, is learning to pick your battles. We had many issues with the code and hardware components while trying to assemble the Astro Socks; we had so many issues that many work periods were ‘lost’ in a sense to try and get these components to work. As soon as we resolved one problem, another issue arose, which just caused us to spend days on something that could’ve been done in an hour, if things worked as they were supposed to. We were so focused on getting the code to work that we left building half of our experiment to the very last day. We also couldn’t do much with the website reflection or Instagram post because we hadn’t done our trials or obtained data. In the end, we couldn’t even complete all our trials because of yet another complication with something we couldn’t do much about, involving a computer operating system that we didn’t have readily available access to. I guess all of this demonstrates our great determination, but I think this is one of the few cases where we should have seen sooner that this was not a battle we needed to win. I am glad that we finally got the pressure sensors to work, though. I also learned a little more about circuits and wires, which I’d say is probably my weakest point in science this year. Having instructions definitely helped, but a win is a win. I know this is a bit cheesy but, it’s about the journey, not the destination. I think this really applies to our side of the Health Impacts project, considering we barely even had a ‘destination.’ The journey, though, was, while stressful at times, quite fun and educational.
Jasmine: I've learned a lot during this space camp project. The biggest thing that I've learned is that things don't always go as planned and I think the whole astro sock project is the best example. We had a nice start with our experiment and the building process went smoothly, until when we had to download the code that was given by Hacking STEM to our microbit. There was an issue with the code and we weren't able to get our microbit to work. We thought of every possible thing that could go wrong and tried multiple times to fix it over the course of a few work periods, but nothing seemed to work, so we had to change our plan and work on something else instead. Also, I learned the importance of time management. We weren't able to finish our experiment due to two main reasons. The first obvious reason, which is that we had trouble with the code and spent a lot of time trying to fix it. The second reason is that we didn't rearrange our plan and time well after our experiment went unexpected. We could've continue working on the last part of the project, which is to prepare other materials that would be needed for the trials, such as the "boots" and the excel workbook. Instead, we were too focused on what we could do to fix the thing that went wrong and we completely forgot about the fact that we still have other parts of the experiment that we needed to work on. Lastly, I learned how to communicate with my group members and we work really well as a team. This project is definitely a great learning experiance for me and I was able to apply what I've learned in the grade 9 science course throughout this project.