IIST, KAU launching post-flight studies on crop seeds that are back from International Space Station
After Group Capt. Shubhanshu Shukla and the other astronauts returned to earth after the 18-day mission, the IIST had taken possession of the seeds towards July-end.
Using a portion of the seeds, IIST's Space Biology Lab, which is leading the 'Crop Seeds on ISS' project, has launched germination studies under lab conditions. But most of the 4000-plus seeds have been transferred to the KAU's College of Agriculture at Vellayani here for field studies, which is a collaborative initiative between the two institutions. The entire research project is expected to take two-and-a-half to three years to complete, IIST sources said.
Seeds of Jyothi and Uma rice varieties, Kanakamani (horse gram), Vellayani Vijay (tomato), Thilakathara (sesame) and Soorya (brinjal/eggplant) were sent to ISS on the Axiom-4 mission which lifted off on June 25 on a SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket.
The biology payload consisted of dry seeds that were packed and exposed to microgravity conditions on the ISS and returned to earth. The 'Crop Seeds on ISS' project was achieved through multi-level agreements among ISRO and the European Space Agency, ISRO's Human Spaceflight Centre (HSFC) and IIST and IIST and KAU.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
2 hours ago
- Hans India
OU's 84th convocation to be held on Aug 19
HYDERABAD: Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kumar Molugaram said that the university is preparing to host its 84th Convocation ceremony on August 19 at the Tagore Auditorium, marking a significant milestone in its academic journey. The event will celebrate the achievements of students and honour distinguished individuals who have made notable contributions to society. Addressing the media on Wednesday, he joined by Registrar Prof. G. Naresh Reddy, OSD to VC Prof. S. Jithendra Kumar Naik, Controller of Examinations Prof. Shashikanth, and other senior faculty members briefed on the upcoming convocation. Prof. Kumar highlighted several key features that make this year's convocation particularly special. A record number of 1,261 PhD scholars will be awarded degrees, a significant rise from the 979 conferred at the previous convocation, reflecting the university's growing emphasis on research excellence. Additionally, 121 gold medals will be presented to meritorious students from the academic years 2022–2023 and 2023–2024. In a historic initiative to promote tribal scholarship, a new gold medal will be awarded for the best PhD thesis in English by a tribal student, instituted by the Chancellor and Governor of Telangana. Another notable addition is the Professor Samudrala Satyanarayana Murthy Memorial Gold Medal, established by IAS officer Smt. Sri Devasena, which will be awarded to the top MBA Finance student. The university will also confer its 50th Honorary Doctorate upon Dr. V. Narayanan, Director of ISRO, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to India's space program. Dr. Narayanan will deliver the convocation address as the chief guest. To ensure smooth proceedings, the Vice-Chancellor outlined event guidelines, including restricted entry to the auditorium for PhD awardees and gold medal recipients, live screening for family members, and designated areas for photography. Mobile phones will not be permitted inside the auditorium, and attendees are requested not to bring small children.
India Today
20 hours ago
- India Today
From launch prep to astronaut training: Latest on Isro's Gaganyaan mission
India's ambitious human spaceflight programme is entering a critical new chapter, with the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) gearing up to launch the Gaganyaan-1 (G1) mission in December.A senior Isro official has confirmed to that this landmark mission, the first in a series of crucial uncrewed test flights, will spend three days orbiting Earth to rigorously validate all systems and procedures developed for carrying Indian astronauts into G1 mission marks a pivotal moment for India's space programme, as it aims to demonstrate the reliability and safety of the systems engineered for human spaceflight. 'G1 is essential for vetting our technologies in real space conditions. We will be testing life support, navigation, re-entry, and other critical parameters required for safely sending humans into orbit and returning them home,' the official explained. The spacecraft, set to be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, will circle the planet in a low-Earth orbit for approximately three days before making a controlled instruments will gather vital data on how the vehicle copes with the stresses of launch, microgravity, radiation exposure, and atmospheric re-entry—a full dress rehearsal for a future mission with astronauts aboard. This test will simulate a parachute-assisted landing. (Photo: India Today) DROP TEST AHEADAhead of the December launch, Isro is also planning an integrated drop test involving the crew test will simulate a parachute-assisted landing by dropping the module from a designated altitude, further refining recovery operations and ensuring all landing systems function as Isro is yet to announce officially, a Notam has been issued hinting at the possibility of the Crew Module drop test. Gp Capt. Shubhanshu Shukla in space. (Photo: Axiom) ASTRONAUT TRAINING TO RESUMEMeanwhile, the Gaganyaan astronaut training programme is regaining momentum. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, one of the four Indian Air Force officers selected for the historic flight, is expected to return to India this month after completing advanced training with Axiom Space in the four-member crew's training regimen is slated to resume in October, with the Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC) in Bengaluru nearing the completion of a state-of-the-art crew training simulator is expected to drastically enhance mission preparedness by replicating launch, orbit, and re-entry scenarios for astronauts. As the December G1 liftoff draws closer, anticipation is mounting both within India's scientific community and among space in these uncrewed test flights will pave the way for the country's first crewed space mission, a milestone that would place India among the select few nations capable of human spaceflight.- EndsMust Watch
Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
Astrophysicist Dr Mitra is guest at Explained.Live event today
With a string of high-profile successes in recent years, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has firmly established itself amongst the front-ranking space agencies of the world. It is now engaged in cutting edge space science and research, in planetary explorations, as well as in development and deployment of new space technologies. It was not always like this. Till very recently, India used to be ridiculed for its space ambitions. It faced technology sanctions multiple times, which delayed its space programmes. Its successes were often acknowledged only for being cheaper than the competition. ISRO was said to be just reinventing the wheel, not doing anything original. But, as the successes of the last few years have shown, none of this could prevent India's emergence as one of the most advanced space-faring nations of the world. The successes have also been able to change the global perception of ISRO. The US, which at various times in the past had denied critical technologies to ISRO, now has entered into a strategic partnership on space with India. Just last month, the two countries launched a unique and ambitious joint mission that will result in the most sophisticated satellite-based imaging of the Earth. Space is one rare technology sector where India can legitimately claim to be one of the front-runners. This, despite the fact, that the space establishment of India has operated with limited resources, both in terms of capital and manpower. But how did this happen? Are ISRO's capabilities really at par with space agencies of the US or China? What are the challenges that ISRO faces as it embarks on even bolder missions in the coming years? Are there learnings from ISRO for other technology sectors? To discuss these, and other related issues, The Indian Express has invited Dr Mila Mitra for an event on Wednesday. An astrophysicist, Dr Mitra worked as support scientist on several satellite missions at NASA. She is the co-founder and academic head of STEM & Space, an education company that works to popularise science, particularly space sciences, among school children. Dr Mitra will be in conversation with Amitabh Sinha, editor, climate and science, at The Indian Express.
