The goal is to compare growth patterns and nutritional differences between Earth-grown and space-sprouted seeds.
Published Jun 27, 2025 | 4:53 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 27, 2025 | 4:53 PM
The mission lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bengaluru, and IIT Dharwad have sent green gram and fenugreek seeds to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom-4 research mission launched on Wednesday, 25 June.
The 25g seed packets will sprout in microgravity under the care of ISRO astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, while identical seeds will be grown under controlled conditions at UAS.
The goal is to compare growth patterns and nutritional differences between Earth-grown and space-sprouted seeds. Sprouted green gram and fenugreek are known to support immunity, bone, kidney, and heart health—making them promising salad crops for long-duration space missions.
Principal Investigator Dr Ravikumar Hosamani (UAS) and Co-Investigator Dr Sudheer Siddapureddy (IIT Dharwad) led the project.
The seeds, packed in 12 containers (4g each), were handed over at Kennedy Space Center in Florida earlier this month. The research supports India’s focus on space agriculture and nutrition.
