Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #32501: Team Groot’s Green Mission: Growing Plants Without Soil in Space

Can you grow plants in space without soil? That’s exactly what Team Groot set out to explore with their aeroponic farming experiment aboard the ISS. Named after the beloved Marvel character, this educational initiative combined fun with serious science to engage students and explore sustainable food solutions for space travel.

Led by Sarina Kopf and supported by CASIS in collaboration with Marvel Guardians of the Galaxy, the project was developed by Space Tango and flew during Expedition 57/58. Its aim was to test how plants grow in a microgravity environment using aeroponics—a soil-less method where roots are misted with nutrient-rich water.

Why is this important? Future missions to the Moon or Mars will require reliable ways to grow food. Traditional agriculture won't work without gravity. Aeroponics offers a promising alternative—it uses less water, no soil, and can be adapted to closed-loop life support systems.

The experiment used a custom growth chamber with sensors and cameras to monitor the plants. Students on Earth followed along through educational modules and real-time updates. This hands-on involvement inspired young minds to pursue science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers.

Team Groot’s mission demonstrated that even in weightlessness, roots can absorb nutrients when properly misted. The plants grew, adapted, and offered critical data for future farming techniques in space.

More than just an experiment, this project symbolized hope and creativity. It proved that science can be accessible, engaging, and deeply relevant to our future in space.

Step into the role of an interstellar farmer and see how Groot’s green legacy is helping humanity grow beyond Earth.

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