ISRO has reached a critical milestone in space agriculture by successfully growing cowpea seeds aboard the PSLV-C60 as part of the CROPS (Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies) experiment. This experiment, which took done in a controlled setting under microgravity circumstances, enabled cowpea seeds to grow their first leaves after only four days of germination.
ISRO released a time-lapse film showing the growth of these seedlings and how they responded to the unique difficulties of microgravity. The film depicts the process of leaves growing in space, which represents a significant breakthrough in understanding plant development beyond Earth.
Eight cowpea seeds were monitored using a completely automated system that measured temperature, humidity, and soil moisture. This configuration is critical for potential long-duration space missions because it reveals how plants may sustain human life by producing food and replenishing air and water in extraterrestrial conditions.
The success of this experiment not only illustrates ISRO’s ability to grow plants in space, but it also prepares the path for long-term human presence aboard missions, which is critical for future expeditions beyond low Earth orbit.
This achievement demonstrates ISRO’s continuous dedication to improving space research and technology, notably in the field of astrobotany, which is critical for supporting life during long-term space flight.
