ISRO: Biology in space unlocked by ISRO, payload grows cowpea leaves

“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.

Meanwhile, the space agency has postponed the eagerly awaited docking of its SpaDeX mission programme– which aims to demonstrate in-space docking using two small spacecraft launched by PSLV rocket along with 24 payloads. Initially scheduled for January 7. The new date for the docking has been set for January 9, ISRO did not specify reasons for the delay.

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