FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Students at a Lee County elementary school harvested their space tomatoes Thursday!
The Allen Park Elementary students have been following the Year in Space learning program since February. The program includes NASA's Walk to the Moon challenge, which asks students to walk the 748 million steps it takes to get to the moon, and creating a time capsule.
They also planted special space tomato seeds; the same one used on the International Space Station.
"Some of these tomatoes, they were taken to space, and we got them from the space station. So we're seeing how going to space would affect the tomato's growth," says student Isabl Liu.
"If it impacts them in any way and inspires them...I have one kid now who says 'Mrs. Black, I'm going to be the first boots on Mars. I'm going to be an astronaut.' I just think it's great," says teacher Courtney Black.
Next year, as they wrap up the program, they'll talk to an astronaut aboard the International Space Station. It's the first time Lee County students will have this opportunity.
