Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies (CROPS)

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on January 4 (2025) said the cowpea seeds it had sent to space onboard the PSLV-C60 POEM-4 platform have germinated under microgravity conditions within four days of the launch of the mission.

Key Highlights of the Experiment:

• Mission Details:
  • Conducted as part of the Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies (CROPS) experiment.
  • Launched onboard the PSLV-C60 mission on December 30, 2024.
  • The fourth stage of the rocket, POEM-4 platform, orbits Earth at an altitude of 350 km, hosting 24 onboard experiments.
• Cowpea Seeds:
  • Eight seeds sent as part of the experiment.
  • Germination observed within four days in a controlled environment under microgravity conditions.
• Controlled Environment:
  • Active thermal regulation simulated conditions plants might experience during extended space travel.

Significance of the Experiment:

• Understanding Plant Growth in Microgravity:
  • Plants behave differently in microgravity due to the absence of Earth’s gravitational pull that influences root and shoot orientation.
  • Insights from this study are essential for developing sustainable food production systems in space.
• Applications for Long-Duration Missions:
  • Future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond will require the cultivation of plants for food, oxygen, and psychological well-being.
  • Cowpea (a resilient and nutritious legume) could serve as a viable crop for space farming.
• Advancement in Space Farming:
  • Successful germination and controlled growth experiments pave the way for self-sufficient life-support systems in space habitats.

PSLV-C60 and POEM-4 Platform:

1. Mission Overview:
   • PSLV-C60 successfully deployed two SpaDeX satellites (Chaser and Target) into orbit.
   • The POEM-4 platform, carrying multiple experiments, continues to orbit and transmit data.
2. CROPS Experiment:
   • Part of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre’s (VSSC) initiatives to explore biological and life-support applications in space.

Understanding Microgravity (Source-NASA):

• Definition:
  • Microgravity is the condition in which gravity’s effects are minimal, allowing objects and astronauts to float freely.
  • Often referred to as “zero gravity,” though this term is inaccurate since gravity exists even in space.
• Impact on Living Systems:
  • Humans: Causes muscle atrophy and bone density loss due to reduced gravitational forces.
  • Plants: Alters the way roots sense gravity (gravitropism), nutrient uptake, and water distribution.
• Gravity in Space:
  • At the International Space Station (ISS) orbiting 200–250 miles above Earth, gravity is still 90% as strong as it is on the surface.
  • The sensation of weightlessness results from the spacecraft and its contents being in freefall around Earth.

(Source: The Hindu, ISRO and NASA)