ExoLab-Mor
Connecting Moroccan Classrooms to the Cosmos
A project by MISI, empowering high school students with hands-on space science research and direct interaction with International Space Station experiments.
ExoLab-Mor at a Glance
Fueling curiosity and scientific exploration by bringing space research into the hands of Moroccan students.
ExoLab-Mor-02: Expanding Horizons with LM6E
Overview & Activities
Building on the success of its predecessor, ExoLab-Mor-02 extended the initiative to students at Lycée Mohamed VI d'Excellence (LM6E). This phase continued MISI's mission to connect Moroccan high schoolers with the International Space Station through immersive space science experiences, utilizing Magnitude.io's ExoLab 11 platform for collaborative research on microgravity's effects on organisms (exobiology and astrobotany).
- Conducted two series of experiments on plant germination and growth with Alfa Alfa (Medicago sativa) and wild alfalfa (Medicago truncatula) on various Moroccan soils and in smart ExoLab boxes.
- Utilized ExoLab boxes with sensors (CO2, humidity, light, temperature) and cameras, connected to Magnitude.io.
- Attended "Meet with an Expert" remote conferences with space industry professionals.
Project Timeline
- List of 64 TCS students established.
- Meeting with students; soil sampling protocol explained.
- Official project launch at LM6E theatre.
- Inauguration of "Meet with an Expert" series.
- Launch of first experiment (Medicago sativa).
- Students remotely attend SpaceX CRS-31 launch.
- Launch of Medicago truncatula cultures in smart ExoLab boxes.
- Launch of second experiment (Medicago truncatula) by 127 students.
- Selected students attend The First AMESC, showcasing Cansat and Hydroponics projects.
ExoLab-Mor: Igniting School Space Clubs
Leveraging the global ExoLab-11 platform, ExoLab-Mor-02 became a catalyst for establishing dynamic space clubs within Moroccan schools. These hubs of innovation extend learning beyond the core ExoLab experiments, empowering students to explore diverse space projects.
ExoLab Experiments
Deepening astrobotany research and ISS data comparison.
Cansat Development
Designing, building, and testing mini-satellites.
Hydroponic Cultures
Exploring advanced soilless agriculture for Earth and space.
Fostering a sustainable ecosystem for space science education and hands-on engineering, nurturing Morocco's future innovators.
"Meet with an Expert" Conference Series
A cornerstone of ExoLab-Mor-02 was the "Meet with an Expert" conference series. This initiative provided students with invaluable opportunities to connect with and learn directly from distinguished researchers, engineers, and professionals making significant contributions to the space industry. Each session offered unique insights into diverse space careers and cutting-edge scientific advancements.
Mr. Najib El MOUKHTARI
Gravitropism
Mr. Youssef MOULANE
Constraints plants face in space
Mme Imane EL KHANTOUTI
Nanosatellite structure and function
Mr. Serhan ZEROUALI
Aerospace engineering career orientation
Mr. Nabil SOUHAIR
Plasma propulsion, chemical rockets, and Aerospikes
Mr. Hamza BOURBOUH
Experience as a former NASA research engineer
Mme Fay GHANI
Sending stem cells into space
Mr. Ted TAGAMI (CEO Magnitude.io)
The ExoLab 11 experience
Comparative data (Humidity, CO2, Light, Temperature) from LM6E and ISS ExoLab boxes were collected. Graphs are available in the project report.
Visual Journey: ExoLab in Action
ExoLab-Mor-01: The Genesis Mission
Overview
The Moroccan Initiative for Space Industry (MISI) and the Scientific Morocco Association, in collaboration with the Regional Academy of Education and Training, Guelmim-Oued Noun and partner Magnitude.io, launched the scientific project ExoLab-Mor-01. This initiative aimed to spark students’ interest in space science and develop their research skills using innovative technology. The ExoLab combined an LMS with a school kit that measures & compares real-time data with an International Space Station experiment on plant growth. The same device sent to the ISS in October 2022 was used by students in their classrooms, allowing them to access the experiment from school or home, complete lessons, and join a global community.
ExoLab-Mor-01 was a joint project between El Khawarizmi and Bab el Sahra high schools in Guelmim, involving over 40 students. They worked with an ExoLab box, a smart plant growing technology with sensors (CO2, humidity, temperature, light) and cameras to monitor Alfalfa plant growth, comparing results with global data and the ISS.
Key Milestones
- Project launched in both high schools. Students briefed, attended seminars on space sciences. Pedagogical follow-up meeting held.
- ExoLab-Mor-01 presented at the Race2space camp.
- MISI team presented a paper on ExoLab-Mor-01 at the 73rd International Astronautical Congress in Paris (selected among >4700 applications).
- ExoLab-Mor-01 joined the Opportunities for Youth in Africa (OYA) program (UNIDO & FAO).
- MISI hosted two live streams during the Dragon spacecraft launch (taking ExoLab to ISS), featuring Najib El Mokhtari (“Moroccan Science Guy”).
- Students participated in a Magnitude live event: "Carbon Farmer", with NASA's Jacob Torres.
Post-Flight Analysis & Learning from Challenges
The ExoLab-10 mission faced challenges. Plants in microgravity didn't grow as well as on Earth. Post-flight analysis (Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Joint Genome Institute, via Magnitude.io) revealed issues with RNA extraction: very low concentration, large fragment sizes (likely genomic DNA), <1% of expected RNA, and poor quality. Plants appeared dead/senescing, leading to rapid RNA degradation. Researchers concluded it was impossible to generate meaningful data for a paper.
These difficulties are part of scientific research. Understanding these issues helps scientists refine strategies for future experiments, an iterative process critical for advancing scientific knowledge.
ExoLab-Mor: The Visual Story
Watch highlights from the ExoLab-Mor initiative, showcasing student engagement and the journey to space.
The Future of ExoLab-Mor
The ExoLab-Mor initiative continues to inspire. The team is looking forward to future iterations, aiming to expand ExoLab's reach to more Moroccan schools, with the scale depending on partnerships and support.
"Hands-on projects are the crucible where theory is forged into understanding. They allow us to not just learn, but to experience, to fail, and ultimately, to innovate. This direct engagement is vital for cultivating the next generation of space explorers and engineers."
El Hassan BOUAGHAD
MISI Member