ISRO’s cowpea seeds sprout leaves in space

The experiment, ISRO’s first biological experiment in space, was part of CROPS (Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies), an automated platform designed to cultivate and sustain plant life in microgravity environment of space.

Written by Anonna Dutt

New Delhi | Updated: January 7, 2025 03:00 AM IST

2 min read

ISRO, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), cowpea seeds, cowpea seeds germinate, Indian express news, current affairs

Eight cowpea seeds sent by ISRO to space. PTI

In a milestone for ISRO, the cowpea seedlings it sent to space as part of a biological experiment on December 30 have sprouted their first leaves, the space agency said Monday.

Developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, it involves growing eight cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) seeds within a controlled environment equipped with active thermal management onboard ISRO’s POEM-4 module.

Of the eight seedlings, at least three sprouted leaves. “This accomplishment not only demonstrates ISRO’s capability to grow plants in space, but also provides valuable insights for future long-duration missions,” ISRO said on X.

“The success of the CROPS experiment marks a promising step towards sustainable human presence in space,” ISRO said.

The cowpea experiment wasn’t the only one carried on board POEM during the recent launch.

Experiments to study plant cells in microgravity, by Amity University, and the growth curve of gut bacteria in space, by Bengaluru’s R V College of Engineering, were also carried out.

Anonna Dutt

Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme. Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports. Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country’s space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University’s Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor’s Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. ... Read More

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