Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #31715: Microgravity Meets Microbiology: High School Students Explore Plant Inoculums in Space

In space, the smallest organisms can play the biggest roles. That’s why Valley Christian High School students in San Jose, California, turned their attention to plant inoculums in their experiment, 'NanoRacks-Valley Christian High School-Plant Inoculum Experiment.' Their goal? To investigate how beneficial bacteria interact with plant roots in microgravity—a critical area of research for future space farming.

Plants rely on inoculums—beneficial microbes that promote nutrient uptake and enhance resistance to disease. On Earth, these microbes form symbiotic relationships with plant roots. But what happens when there’s no gravity to guide their growth and behavior?

The students, supported by the Lowell Center for Space Science and Technology, designed a flight experiment that combined seeds and microbial cultures in a sealed environment. This setup allowed them to observe how the inoculums behaved in space and whether the same plant-microbe synergy occurred in orbit as it does on Earth.

The students hypothesized that microgravity would disrupt the usual root colonization patterns and microbial functions. After analyzing the data sent back from the ISS, they noticed variations in microbial growth, as well as irregularities in how the microbes attached to plant roots. These findings hint at the complex role of gravity in soil biology and the challenges of developing sustainable agricultural systems for space.

Experiments like this demonstrate that growing food in space isn’t just about plants—it’s also about the hidden world of microbes that support them. These student researchers contributed valuable data to a growing field and experienced the thrill of space science firsthand.

Join the Agnirva Space Internship Program

Get certified with over 100 hours of immersive, self-paced learning in astronomy, cosmology, space technology, and climate science through the Agnirva Space Internship Program. Join, complete virtual projects, and earn a digital certificate to showcase your space fluency in interviews, resumes, and beyond.