{"product_id":"astrofarmer-classroom-package","title":"Astrofarmer Classroom Package","description":"\u003ch2\u003eGrow plants in lunar regolith simulant\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Astrofarmer Classroom Package is a hands-on STEM kit that lets students grow plants in LHS-1E lunar highlands regolith simulant and compare the results against Earth soil. One kit supports up to 25 student teams and includes the simulant, the control soil, the growing hardware, the safety gear, and a digital workbook with lesson plans.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWe make it at Space Resource Technologies in Oviedo, Florida, using the same research-grade simulant that university and industry labs buy for ISRU testing. Students run the experiment on the actual material, not a substitute.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat's in the kit\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLHS-1E lunar regolith simulant (1 bucket).\u003c\/strong\u003e Our economy highlands simulant, formulated to match the mineralogy and grain characteristics of the lunar highlands.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEarth soil (1 bucket).\u003c\/strong\u003e The experimental control, so students can measure a difference instead of guessing at one.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowing pots.\u003c\/strong\u003e Enough for up to 25 teams to run paired simulant and soil trials.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeeds.\u003c\/strong\u003e Ready to plant on day one.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScoopers and stirrers.\u003c\/strong\u003e For measuring and mixing consistent sample volumes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProtective face masks.\u003c\/strong\u003e Fine-grained simulant is a respiratory irritant, so every team gets dust protection.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAstrofarmer stickers.\u003c\/strong\u003e Because students keep them.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDigital workbook.\u003c\/strong\u003e Lesson plans, background reading, data tables, and the scientific context behind lunar agriculture research.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow the experiment works\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003col\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eTeams split into simulant pots and Earth soil pots.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eStudents plant identical seeds in both and hold light, water, and temperature constant.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eOver the following weeks, teams record germination rate, height, and plant health.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eThe workbook walks the class through why lunar regolith behaves differently: no organic matter, poor water retention, sharp angular grains, and a mineral profile unlike anything in terrestrial soil.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eStudents finish with a real dataset, a real control, and a real reason the answer matters. Any crew living on the Moon will have to solve this problem.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWho it's for\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMiddle school, high school, and introductory undergraduate courses in Earth and space science, biology, agriculture, and general STEM. It also works for science clubs, museum programs, summer camps, and homeschool co-ops. Educators who want the mushroom-growing version of this experiment can look at the Astrofarmer grow kit instead.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003ctable\u003e\n  \u003ctbody\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eSimulant\u003c\/th\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eLHS-1E (Lunar Highlands Simulant, Economy)\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eControl medium\u003c\/th\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eEarth soil\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eTeams supported\u003c\/th\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eUp to 25\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eWorkbook format\u003c\/th\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eDigital download\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eSafety gear included\u003c\/th\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eFace masks\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003c\/tr\u003e\n    \u003ctr\u003e\n      \u003cth scope=\"row\"\u003eManufacturer\u003c\/th\u003e\n      \u003ctd\u003eSpace Resource Technologies, Oviedo, FL, USA\u003c\/td\u003e\n    \u003c\/tr\u003e\n  \u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eQuestions educators ask\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this real Moon soil?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nNo. Returned lunar samples are not commercially available. LHS-1E is a simulant, engineered to reproduce the mineralogy and grain characteristics of lunar highlands regolith so that experiments on it behave like experiments on the real thing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill plants actually grow in lunar regolith simulant?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nSome will, and that is the point of the experiment. Germination and early growth are possible, but plants in simulant typically underperform plants in Earth soil because regolith has no organic content and holds water poorly. Students measure that gap themselves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs the simulant safe for students?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nYes, with basic precautions. The material is a fine mineral powder and should not be inhaled, which is why masks are included. Use it in a ventilated space, keep it out of eyes, and wash hands afterward.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat grade levels does it suit?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nThe workbook supports middle school through introductory college. Younger classes can run the growth comparison as a guided activity; older students can take on variable control, statistics, and write-ups.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow long does the experiment take?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nPlan for several weeks of observation after planting, depending on the seed type and growing conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan we reuse the simulant?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nThe simulant itself does not degrade, so it can be dried and stored for future demonstrations. Growth results will differ after the first planting cycle.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Space Resource Technologies","offers":[{"title":"Lunar Astrofarmer Clasroom Package","offer_id":48033609449650,"sku":null,"price":1000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Martian Astrofarmer Clasroom Package","offer_id":48033605550258,"sku":null,"price":1250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Lunar \u0026 Martian Astrofarmer Clasroom Package","offer_id":48033611153586,"sku":null,"price":2000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0398\/9268\/0862\/files\/ChatGPT_Image_Sep_11_2026_12_41_32_PM.png?v=1789145097","url":"https:\/\/spaceresourcetech.com\/products\/astrofarmer-classroom-package","provider":"Space Resource Technologies","version":"1.0","type":"link"}