On Saturday, ISRO announced that the cowpea seeds it sent to space onboard the PSLV-C60 POEM-4 platform have successfully germinated under microgravity conditions. The seeds sprouted within just four days of the mission’s launch.
Details of the Experiment
The seeds were part of the Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies (CROPS) experiment, conducted by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). The purpose of this experiment is to study plant growth in microgravity conditions, offering insights into how plants adapt and thrive in space.
Key Highlights
- Mission Launch: The PSLV-C60 mission, launched on December 30, placed two SpaDeX satellites into orbit.
- Cowpea Seeds: Eight cowpea seeds were sent as part of the CROPS experiment.
- Growth in Microgravity: The seeds successfully germinated within four days of the launch, marking a significant achievement in space biology.
- Future Expectations: ISRO expects leaves to appear soon as part of the plant’s development in space.
Ongoing Experiment
The fourth stage of the PSLV-C60 rocket, carrying the POEM-4 platform, has been orbiting Earth at an altitude of 350 km since December 30. This stage is hosting 24 onboard experiments, including the cowpea seed germination study, which is being conducted in a controlled environment.
ISRO’s Announcement
On X (formerly Twitter), ISRO shared the success of the experiment: “Life sprouts in space! VSSC’s CROPS experiment onboard PSLV-C60 POEM-4 successfully sprouted cowpea seeds in 4 days. Leaves expected soon.”
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs):
- What was the primary goal of the CROPS experiment conducted by ISRO?
- a) To study animal behavior in space
- b) To observe plant growth in microgravity conditions
- c) To test satellite communication systems
- d) To monitor space weather
- Answer: b) To observe plant growth in microgravity conditions
- How many cowpea seeds were sent to space for the CROPS experiment?
- a) 5
- b) 8
- c) 10
- d) 12
- Answer: b) 8
- What was the time frame within which the cowpea seeds germinated?
- a) 1 day
- b) 2 days
- c) 4 days
- d) 7 days
- Answer: c) 4 days
- Which ISRO center conducted the CROPS experiment?
- a) Indian Space Research Centre
- b) Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)
- c) Satish Dhawan Space Centre
- d) National Remote Sensing Centre
- Answer: b) Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC)
- At what altitude has the POEM-4 platform been orbiting Earth?
- a) 100 km
- b) 200 km
- c) 350 km
- d) 500 km
- Answer: c) 350 km