Monarch caterpillars will be sent to the International Space Station on Nov. 16 in a small rearing chamber. This chamber will be placed in an incubator where the developing monarchs will be monitored. Still and video cameras will continually capture images, which will be made available online.
If a school or classroom (east of the Rocky Mtns) wants to participate, please contact monarch@ku.edu before 5 p.m. this Friday (Nov. 6). Monarch Watch will send a special monarch larva kit to participating schools. The kit costs $17.95 and the overnight shipping will be an additional $26, for a total of $43.95. The kit consists of (6) 3rd instar larvae on artificial diet and additional cups of diet. Three larvae will be loaded into the rearing chamber. Additional instructions will be provided regarding feeding. Material is included regarding monarchs as they face a nearly weightless environment of the ISS.
If your school is chosen, the students will be able to follow the shuttle mission to the space station and the development of the monarchs in space for at least two weeks. Contact Monarch Watch for more info.
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