Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31558: Growing Green in Space: How Edith Stein School Explored Plant Propagation in Orbit

Imagine trying to grow a plant in space—without gravity to tell roots to go down or stems to go up. This was the challenge tackled by the Edith Stein School in Ravensburg through their ISS experiment: NanoRacks-Edith Stein School-Vegetative Propagation of Plants in Orbit. In partnership with the Lowell Center for Space Science and Technology, students examined how plant cuttings—rather than seeds—might sprout and grow in microgravity. This form of vegetative propagation is key to future space agriculture because it bypasses the slower seed-growing cycle and allows faster reproduction of genetically identical plants.

Students sent samples aboard Expeditions 49/50 and 51/52, where astronauts nurtured the plant cuttings under controlled light and moisture. Back on Earth, students grew identical samples to compare results. Their findings contributed to our understanding of how plant tissues behave in microgravity, which can help design sustainable food systems on long-duration space missions. This project not only enhanced students’ grasp of botany and space science but also inspired innovative thinking about food production beyond Earth.

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