Sprouting in space, methyl magazines, etc? Shubhanshu Shukla's mission is to discover Indian superfoods with zero gravity
Will Moong and Methi grow in space?
One of the most fascinating experiments will be led by Shukla: an attempt to grow salad seeds in space. Specifically, the team will test whether Green Gravity and Fenugreek (Methi) can germinate and grow in microgravity, an environment that is different from the Earth and does not have “up” or “down”.
This is part of ISRO's efforts to conduct India-centric food experiments on the International Space Station. These common Indian buds are not only because of their popularity, but also because of their nutritional and medicinal value.
What scientists want to learn
As Tushar Phadnis, the group leader of ISRO's Microgravity Platform and Research, explained, the program is not only to sprout seeds in space, but they will study them in detail once they return to Earth. Fadney said at a virtual press conference hosted by Axiom:
“We conducted a germination experiment, trying to sprout green g or moon, moti or fenugreek seeds, believed to have medicinal properties… The idea is also to see how these specific Indian-specific bean sprouts behave when they come back.”The team will observe:
- If the seeds can germinate and grow in space like they do on Earth
- How spatial microorganisms affect plant growth
- Is the nutritional value still the same
Why it matters
The experiment is part of a larger goal to see if astronauts can grow their own fresh food in space. This could be a game changer for future missions, especially those that go to spaces where supply is not easy.
If successful, India's simple thick fields and methylphenyl seeds could one day help feed astronauts millions of kilometers from Earth.
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