The First ExoLab & What Comes Next!

Year 4. This was the 2016-2017 season. With the engineering expertise of our commercial service provider, Space Tango, and support from the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), Magnitude was finally headed to the International Space Station! Flown aboard the SpaceX-10 resupply mission, ExoLab-1 launched from Kennedy Space Center’s historic pad 39A on 19 February, 2017, and returned home 30 days later. The plant that was studied was the model organism Arabidopsis…

Jun 2023

By Tagami10n, ExoLab, ISS US National Laboratory, Space Hackathon, Space TangoLeave a comment

Look Back: Year 6

The 2018-2019 year was the beginning of expanded international growth for Magnitude. We kicked the fiscal year off in San Francisco that July receiving an Innovation Award in STEM education at the ISS R&D conference. August had us joining a NASA contingent to Puerto Rico for university outreach. A partnership was launched in Germany with CodeDoor, and our South African NGO partner i-Innovate continued to reach underserved communities. Along the way we picked up 3…

Jun 2023

By Tagami10n, Balloon Launch, ExoLab, Germany, High Altitude Balloon, ISS US National Laboratory, Social JusticeLeave a comment

Education and Space Communities Lose a Leader

Magnitude.io co-founder and serial entrepreneur Anthony (Tony) So passed away unexpectedly last Sunday at home. A private service is planned later this month. Tony leaves behind his wife Christine, and their two daughters. He was 61. The space and education communities lost an amazing teacher that knew how to meet the learner where they were and knew how to provide just the right level of encouragement. Tony’s algorithm for life was his joie de vivre,…

Feb 2022

By TagamiExoLab, ISS US National Laboratory, Schools, SpaceLeave a comment

Gardeners of the Galaxy Podcast

Lori Waters from Magnitude.io joins Emma the Space Gardener to talk about the ExoLab experiments that have sent intrepid red clover leguminauts into space, the student researchers involved in the ground control experiments, and her experiences as an analog astronaut. Listen to podcast! https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-ckaf9-10ef654

Oct 2021

By Lori WatersExoLab, ISS US National LaboratoryLeave a comment

Growing the Global Reach of ExoLab

Magnitude.io CEO Ted Tagami and Fizzics Education Founder Ben Newsome recently spoke about the ExoLab missions growing plants on the International Space Station and bringing this out of this world STEM opportunity to teachers and students in Australia. ExoLab-9 launches on August 18, 2021, and students of all ages from the around the world can be part of this authentic astrobotany research experiment. Listen to the podcast with Ted and Ben to learn more.

May 2021

By Lori WatersExoLab, ISS US National LaboratoryLeave a comment

Student-driven ExoLab-8 experiment launching on NG-15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Taking distance learning to the International Space Station Orbital Classroom along with an Astro_moji Teacher (BERKELEY, California) ‒ Magnitude.io CEO Ted Tagami announced today that its student-driven ExoLab-8 plant experiment will launch to the International Space Station (ISS) no earlier than February 20 as part of the NG-15 Cargo Resupply Mission from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. With the shift to distance learning as a result of the pandemic, Magnitude.io expanded…

Feb 2021

By Lori WatersBitmoji, ExoLab, ISS US National LaboratoryLeave a comment

Distance Learning with Bitmoji Classrooms

Guest post by ExoLab-8 Astro_moji Mission Specialist Lisa Turney Students didn’t expect to see me as a cartoon character in a digital classroom. Yet with Bitmoji classroom, this technology tool has brought tremendous engagement despite a challenging year in education. While schools were shut down during the last part of the school year, I actually thrived on distance learning. Since I love bringing technology into the classroom, I began soaking up…

Jan 2021

By Lori WatersBitmoji, ExoLab, ISS US National Laboratory1 Comment

Kansas Teacher selected as the ExoLab-8 Astro_moji Mission Specialist

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE** December 16, 2020 Linwood Elementary Teacher Lisa Turney will have her Bitmoji avatar launch to the International Space Station (BERKELEY, California) – Magnitude.io CEO Ted Tagami announced today that Linwood Elementary Technology Teacher Lisa Turney from Linwood, Kansas will have her Bitmoji launch to the International Space Station with the ExoLab-8 mission. Tagami remarked, “Lisa Turney will serve as the ExoLab-8 Astro_moji Mission Specialist leading an extraordinary virtual field trip experience and…

Dec 2020

By TagamiBitmoji, ExoLab, ISS US National Laboratory, Press ReleaseLeave a comment

Bitmoji in Space!

We are excited to announce a fun project that we did with Bitmoji and the ISS US National Laboratory for Teachers and Students. More poses will come out next week as will more details about how YOU might be able to get you Bitmoji into space on our next mission in February! Stay tuned… ** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ** Toronto Canada For most teachers, the school year begins by creating an exciting and…

Oct 2020

By TagamiExoLab, ISS US National Laboratory, Next Generation Science Standards, Press Release, SpaceLeave a comment