Context: The CROPS (Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies) Mission of ISRO successfully germinated cowpea seeds in just four days, marking a milestone in space farming.

About CROPS Mission

• CROPS Mission, developed by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), is ISRO’s first biological experiment to grow plants in space under microgravity conditions.

• Launched aboard PSLV-C60 mission, CROPS utilized the PSLV Orbital Experiment Module (POEM)-4 platform to cultivate cowpea seeds in a controlled environment with active thermal management.

• Design: The CROPS module functions like a mini greenhouse with Earth-like conditions in space.

• Growing Medium: Highly porous clay pellets are used, aiding water retention and nutrient release through slow-release fertilisers.

• Light Simulation: Eight LEDs (four warm, four cool) are used to mimic day-night cycles, with lights programmed to be on for 16 hours and off for 8 hours.

• Temperature & Atmosphere Control: The module’s temperature is maintained between 20–30°C, with Earth-like atmospheric conditions.

• Water Delivery: Water is injected into the soil-like medium via an electric valve operated from Earth.

• Results: Lobia seeds sprouted on fourth day & leaves appeared on fifth, signaling successful germination.

Significance of the CROPS Mission

• Understanding Microgravity Effects: The experiment offers insights into plant adaptation and growth in a microgravity environment.

• Sustainable Deep-Space Exploration: Essential for developing life-support systems for long-duration missions, including Mars expeditions.

• Advancing Astrobotany: Establishes India’s capability to grow food in extraterrestrial conditions, contributing to global research on space agriculture.

Future Applications of CROPS Mission

• Food Security in Space: Data from CROPS can guide the development of sustainable agricultural systems for astronauts on extended missions.

• Readiness for Mars and Beyond: Facilitates India’s preparation for Mars colonisation and long-term space habitation goals.

POEM-4 Platform

• POEM-4 (PSLV Orbital Experiment Module-4) is a microgravity research platform repurposing the PSLV rocket’s fourth stage.

• Increased Capacity: Three times more capacity than the previous POEM-3.

• Payloads: Includes 24 payloads focusing on robotics, sensors, and proof-of-concept technologies.

• Components: Walking Robotic Arm (RRM-TD) is an inchworm-like motion for inspection and servicing; Debris Capture Manipulator for space clean-up; Gradient Control Reaction Wheel Assembly (RWA) enhances attitude stabilisation.

Implication of POEM-4 and Collaborative Research

• Payload Diversity & Public-Private Collaboration: POEM-4 carried 24 payloads, including experiments on plant cells & gut bacteria by academic institutions (Amity University & RV College of Engg).

Space Farming

• Space farming is the cultivation of crops for food and other purposes in outer space which may be a celestial body like the Mars or the moon or a space station such as the International Space Station (ISS).

Ideal Plants for Space Farming

• Leafy Greens: Plants like lettuce, spinach, and kale are ideal as they grow quickly, require minimal space, and are rich in nutrients.

• Legumes: Beans & peas provide protein & can fix nitrogen; improve nutrient cycles in soil-like mediums.

• Root Vegetables: Radishes and carrots thrive in compact spaces, while wheat and rice are considered for long-term space sustenance.

• Fruits: Tomatoes and strawberries are suitable for space farming due to their size and nutritional value.

Need for Space Farming

• Sustainable Food Source: Space-grown plants provide nutrition on long-term missions, reducing reliance on limited pre-packaged food supplies.

• Oxygen Production: Through photosynthesis, plants release oxygen, crucial for maintaining breathable air in spacecraft.

• Recycling Systems: Plants can recycle CO2 and organic waste, creating a closed-loop life support system.

• Mental Health: Caring for plants reduces stress & improves astronauts’ mental health during missions.

Methods of Growing Plants in Space

• Hydroponics: Plants grow in liquid solutions, receiving water and nutrients without soil. It is commonly used in space for its efficiency in water usage.

• Aeroponics: Plants are grown with roots suspended in air, using mist for nutrients. This reduces water and fertiliser usage and eliminates pesticides, making it efficient for space farming.

• Soil-like Media: This system simulates terrestrial soil by using materials such as highly porous clay pellets, retaining water and slowly releasing nutrients.

• Veggie System: The International Space Station’s space garden, known as Veggie, uses hydroponics to grow various plants in a small space.

Challenges in Space Farming

• Microgravity: Lack of gravity prevents roots from growing downward and complicates water and nutrient absorption, as water sticks to surfaces in microgravity.

• Radiation Exposure: High radiation levels in space can damage plant DNA and impede growth.

• Temperature Variations: Extreme temperature fluctuations in space, often hundreds of degrees, require special insulation for plants.

• Light Availability: In outer solar system missions, the lack of sunlight challenges photosynthesis, leading to oxygen consumption rather than production.

Conclusion

• ISRO’s CROPS experiment represents a significant leap in space research, demonstrating India's capability in astrobotany and its commitment to addressing the challenges of long-term space exploration.

• The successful germination of cowpea seeds aboard the PSLV-C60 mission sets the stage for further advancements in sustainable space agriculture and deep-space missions.