Context: ISRO has achieved a remarkable feat by successfully germinating cowpea seeds in microgravity conditions during its PSLV-C60 POEM-4 mission.
Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX); PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM 4.0); ISRO’s CROPS Experiment.
ISRO’s CROPS Experiment
- ISRO’s CROPS Experiment utilised the Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies (CROPS) payload developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram.
- The payload was one of the 24 payloads onboard the PSLV-C60 mission launched on 30th December 2024.
- The fourth stage of PSLV (POEM-4) was utilised to host the 24 scientific experiments.
- Aim: CROPS is designed as a multi-stage initiative aimed at establishing sustainable space-based agricultural methods.
Key Features:
- CROPS payload functions as an automated platform designed to cultivate and research seed germination and plant survival in the microgravity environment of space.
- Microgravity exists where there is a negligible amount of gravity or where objects are in free fall. E.g., Inside the International Space Station (ISS).
- Eight cowpea seeds are placed in a regulated closed-box setting with precise temperature control and advanced monitoring equipment to observe plant development continuously.
- This includes high-definition cameras, sensors for oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, humidity detectors, temperature monitors and soil moisture measuring devices.
- Success: The batch of cowpea seeds have sprouted and unveiled their first leaves.
Read More: PSLV-C60: SpaDeX & POEM
Significance:
- ISRO's demonstration of successful plant growth in extreme conditions advances the development of space agriculture, which is essential for self-sufficient space habitats.