Isro has achieved a remarkable feat by successfully germinating cowpea seeds in microgravity conditions during their PSLV-C60 POEM-4 mission.

• The successful experiment utilised the Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies (CROPS), demonstrating substantial progress in understanding how plants grow in space conditions.
• VSSC developed the CROPS payload, which functions as an automated system specifically created to research seed germination and plant survival in microgravity environments.
• The research involved eight cowpea seeds placed in a regulated closed-box setting with precise temperature control, establishing essential groundwork for agricultural studies beyond Earth.