KAU sending seeds to space on NASA's Axiom Mission 4
In a collaboration, the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) is joining NASA's Axiom Mission 4, marking a significant milestone for Indian agricultural science in space research.
The mission will carry seed varieties developed by the KAU to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of a collaborative research initiative. The project is a joint effort involving the European Space Agency (ESA), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), and the KAU's College of Agriculture, Vellayani.
The seeds selected for the space experiment include six high-yielding locally developed crop varieties: Jyothi, Uma (rice varieties); Kanakamani (horse gram); Thilakathara (sesame); Soorya (brinjal/eggplant); Vellayani Vijay (tomato). These seeds will undergo rigorous scientific evaluation in the unique microgravity environment of space, according to KAU sources.
The primary goal of the study is to examine how space conditions, especially microgravity, affect germination, growth, and viability of food crop seeds. After spending time at the ISS, the seeds will be brought back to earth, planted in controlled environments, and monitored closely for changes in growth, resilience, and productivity.
Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla, one of the astronauts aboard the Axiom Mission 4, will play a supportive role in conducting the experiment in space. Among six Indian-led experiments selected for the mission, KAU's microgravity-focussed agricultural research stands out as a key scientific contribution, the KAU sources said.
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