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ISRO has shared the picture of germination of cowpea on X
ISRO had launched SpaDeX i.e. Space Docking Experiment mission from Sriharikota on 30 December. Under this, two spacecraft were deployed 470 km above the earth with PSLV-C60 rocket.
CROPS (Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies) on POEM-4 (PSLV Orbital Experimental Module) sent with it has succeeded in sprouting life for the first time in space.
CROPS, designed at Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC), germinated cowpea seeds in just 4 days. Leaves are expected to arrive soon.
Why only cowpea was chosen for the experiment?
Cowpea seeds were chosen for the experiment because they germinate quickly. They also have very strong tolerance. This is a plant with nutritional value. This experiment is being considered a big step towards growing food in space, which will help in maintaining human presence on the Moon, Mars, or other planets in the future.
ISRO also preparing to grow spinach
This payload has been prepared by Amity University Mumbai.
24 payloads related to research and development were also sent with Spacex. These payloads are docked at an altitude of 700 km above the Earth. Of these, 14 payloads are from ISRO and the remaining 10 are from startups and academy. One of these is the Amity Plant Experimental Module in Space (APEMS) payload, which has been created by Amity University. It will research how plant cells grow in space.
Under this research, experiments will be conducted simultaneously in space and on Earth. Important things like sunlight and nutrients will be provided to the spinach cells through LED lights and gel. A camera will record plant cell color and growth. If the color of the cell changes then the experiment will fail.
Hope of growing plants in space on Mars mission increased
The news of germination in cowpea has increased the hopes of success in the research on spinach. Experiments on spinach cells will be conducted simultaneously in space and on Earth. Important things like sunlight and nutrients will be provided to the spinach cells through LED lights and gel. A camera will record plant cell color and growth. If the color of the cell changes then the experiment will fail.
If successful in these experiments, it can help in improving agricultural techniques in space and on Earth. Also, the possibility of Indian scientists growing plants during long space journeys, such as Mars missions, will be further strengthened.
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Also read this news related to Spadex mission…
Spacex Mission- ISRO will connect both the spacecraft in space on January 7.
Now on January 7, 2025, in this mission, these two spacecraft traveling in space ten times faster than the speed of a bullet will be connected. If the mission is successful, India will become the fourth country to do so after Russia, America and China. India’s Chandrayaan-4 mission depends on the success of the mission, in which samples of lunar soil will be brought to Earth. Chandrayaan-4 mission can be launched in 2028. Read the full news…
