Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has joined NASA’s Axiom Mission 4, contributing to a global scientific experiment focused on how microgravity influences the viability and growth of crop seeds.
As part of a joint initiative involving the European Space Agency (ESA), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), six seed varieties developed by KAU will be sent to the International Space Station (ISS) for research.
The selected seeds include two rice varieties—Jyothi and Uma—along with Kanakamani (horse gram), Thilakathara (sesame), Soorya (brinjal), and Vellayani Vijay (tomato). These were developed at KAU’s College of Agriculture, Vellayani, and are known for their adaptability and yield in Kerala’s agro-climatic conditions.
On board the ISS, the seeds will be exposed to microgravity conditions. Scientists aim to observe whether and how the absence of gravity alters seed germination, growth behaviour, and resilience. The data collected may help assess the feasibility of cultivating food crops in space—an area gaining attention as space agencies prepare for longer-duration missions and potential habitation outside Earth.
The seeds will be brought back to Earth and cultivated in controlled environments to check for any physiological or genetic changes. Researchers will focus on parameters such as growth rate, disease resistance, and productivity.
The mission was originally expected to launch in early June, but it has now been pushed back again. This delay follows a series of reschedulings and is reportedly due to logistical and operational concerns related to docking schedules and traffic at the ISS. The exact revised date is yet to be confirmed by Axiom Space or NASA.
Despite the delay, scientists involved in the project maintain that preparations are intact. The seeds are ready, and the experimental framework remains unchanged. For researchers, the pause is only a logistical hurdle—not a scientific one
Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubanshu Shukla, part of the Axiom Mission 4 crew, will assist in conducting the seed experiment aboard the space station. His tasks include monitoring seed condition and ensuring proper handling during the study period
Among six Indian-led experiments approved for Axiom Mission 4, KAU’s seed study stands out for addressing food security in extraterrestrial environments. Space scientists have increasingly been exploring plant biology in microgravity to inform future life-support systems on the Moon, Mars, or deep-space stations.
While the outcomes of the experiment are yet to be seen, researchers believe the findings could also offer clues relevant to improving crop resilience in extreme conditions on Earth.