Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31024: Growing Carrots and Beans in Space: A Student-Led Microgravity Experiment

What happens when you grow carrot and bean seeds in outer space? That’s exactly what this educational experiment set out to discover. Part of Expedition 65 and led by Kathleen Fredette from iLEAD Aerospace, this project studied the growth of Daucus carota (carrot seeds) and Vigna angularis (adzuki beans) in a microgravity environment.

The International Space Station offers a unique lab where gravity is nearly absent. In such conditions, seeds can behave very differently compared to on Earth. Do roots still grow downward? Do leaves orient in any specific direction? This project aimed to answer such questions and inspire young students in the process.

The seeds were carefully packed in growth chambers and monitored as they sprouted in orbit. Back on Earth, similar seeds were grown in classroom conditions. The results were then compared to highlight how gravity (or its absence) influences development.

This simple but profound study teaches biology, botany, and space science in one hands-on project. It emphasizes how even basic questions—like how a seed grows—can be part of high-level space research. Even more exciting: students contributed to the experimental design, bridging the gap between education and exploration.

The insights can help future space farming initiatives, where growing food in orbit or on other planets could be essential.

From seed to sprout, space is fertile ground for learning.

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