Biology in space unlocked by ISRO, payload grows cowpea leaves
ISRO) on Monday announced that it can successfully demonstrate biology in space as cowpea sprouted in a microgravity environment, paving way for long-duration future missions.
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“Leaves have emerged! VSSC’s CROPS (Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies) aboard PSLV-C60 POEM-4 achieves a milestone as cowpea sprouts unveil their first leaves in space,” the space agency said in a post on Monday.
ISRO also shared a photo of the payload with green leaves growing through the gaps showing seeding germination. The CROPS payload was developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), as a multi-phase platform to develop and test ISRO’s capabilities for growing and sustaining flora in extra terrestrial environments within a closed environment which was equipped with active thermal management.
The payload monitored various parameters such as oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, relative humidity, temperature, and soil moisture, while capturing images to track plant growth, ISRO said. It had sent eight cowpea seeds up in space.
Scientists said the experiment is crucial to understanding how plants adapt to microgravity and developing life support systems that can produce food and regenerate air and water for astronauts.
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