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The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has achieved a significant breakthrough in space research with the successful germination of cowpea seeds in space. The seeds, part of the Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies (CROPS) experiment, germinated within just four days of being sent into space on the PSLV-C60 mission.
On December 30, the PSLV-C60 rocket was launched, placing two Spadex satellites into orbit, and carrying the POEM-4 platform with 24 onboard experiments. They included the CROPS experiment, designed by ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) to investigate plant growth in the unique environment of microgravity.
In a post shared on Twitter, ISRO celebrated the milestone, “Life germinates in space! VSSC’s CROP experiment on PSLV-C60 POEM-4 successfully germinates cowpea seeds in 4 days. “Leaves are expected to emerge soon.”
The purpose of the experiment is to find out how plants grow in space, an important area of study for long-duration space missions, such as those planned for Mars and beyond. The results could play an important role in ensuring food security for astronauts on extended missions.
Eight cowpea seeds were placed in a controlled, closed-box environment with active thermal regulation to mimic the conditions encountered by plants during space travel. This system monitors various factors necessary for plant growth, including oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, temperature, humidity, and soil moisture. Passive measurements are taken through imaging and other environmental sensors to track plant growth.
CROPS is part of a larger initiative to develop ISRO’s capabilities in maintaining vegetation in extraterrestrial environments, with future phases expected to focus on long-term plant growth in space. The current experiment is designed to last between five and seven days, demonstrating seed germination and plant development to the two-leaf stage.
This success is another step forward for India in space research, with the CROPS program set to provide valuable insights into how plant life can be sustained in space. As humanity looks toward the future of space exploration, understanding plant growth in microgravity conditions will be important for creating sustainable living environments on distant planets.
Apart from the CROPS experiment, ISRO also shared an update on its space docking experiment. The chaser satellite, which is orbiting the Earth at an altitude of 470 km, is set to dock with the target satellite on Tuesday. If successful, India will join the select group of countries – Russia, the US and China – that have mastered this advanced technology.
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