Working with NASA’s Growing Beyond Earth (GBE) program, our team and collaborators at Jefferson Middle School tested Red Romaine lettuce and Hybrid Leafy Asian Greens in custom-built chambers that mimic spaceflight plant systems. By changing LED light intensity, CO₂ levels, and seed radiation exposure, we examined how to grow “space salads” that are compact, high-yield, and rich in potassium, magnesium, and calcium—while keeping nitrate and iron levels in a safer range for astronauts.

The study found that moderate CO₂ enrichment and carefully controlled light levels can reduce nitrate buildup but may also shift other nutrients, underscoring the need for precise environmental control in future Moon and Mars missions. The work was recognized with First Place in the High School Poster Section at the 2024 American Society for Gravitational and Space Research (ASGSR) Annual Meeting. 

Our 2025 publication highlight is the proof point that a student program can teach research as a complete lifecycle, not as isolated activities. Students worked through NASA-aligned space-crop experiments—then carried the evidence all the way into peer review. The key is a replicable operating system: end-to-end R&D milestones.