ISRO Grows Plants in Space: PSLV-C60 Mission Achieves Milestone with Germinated Seeds

ISRO successfully germinated cowpea seeds in microgravity as part of its PSLV-C60 POEM-4 mission. This was the first of its kind in a groundbreaking experiment and marked a great leap forward for enabling sustainable human life in space. It also made history for space agriculture.

How the Experiment Was Conducted

This used the Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies (CROPS) from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. Eight cowpea seeds were placed in the controlled environment fitted with high quality cameras, sensors for oxygen and carbon dioxide, humidity detectors, and soil moisture monitors. Within just four days, the seeds successfully sprouted to pave the way for further growth and possibly leaves.

Why Grow Plants in Space?

The main objective of growing plants in space is to overcome some of the major hurdles for long-duration space missions, such as:

Food Supply: Fresh produce for astronauts during extended missions.
Oxygen Generation: Carbon dioxide into breathable oxygen, improving air quality inside spacecraft.
Mental Health: A connection to nature, which helps with psychological aspects.

This experiment marks an important step towards making self-sustaining human habitats possible on other planets, like Mars and the Moon.

Challenges and Future Potential

While promising in initial results, there is always the issue of microgravity growing that faces slow growth and non-consistent uptake of nutrients. Despite all these issues, it will prove a transforming leap to establish a space-based agricultural system required for colonization in the near future.