Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31707: Space Gardening: Growing Fast Plants, Chives, and Dandelions on the ISS

Can your salad grow in space? Valley Christian High School tackled this question by planting Wisconsin Fast Plants, chives, and dandelions aboard the International Space Station during Expeditions 39/40. The goal: to study how different species adapt to microgravity and assess their potential for future space farming.

In microgravity, plants face challenges in root orientation, water distribution, and gas exchange. This experiment monitored plant health, growth rate, and morphology, using cameras and sensors to capture every stage of development.

Wisconsin Fast Plants were chosen for their short life cycle and scientific reliability. Chives and dandelions added diversity and nutritional interest. Results showed varying levels of adaptation. Some plants grew better than others, highlighting the importance of species selection and environmental controls in extraterrestrial agriculture.

This experiment not only contributed to astrobiology and sustainability research but also empowered students to engage deeply with botany, data collection, and remote monitoring systems.

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