Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #32546: Tomatosphere-US: Bringing Space Science into American Classrooms

Tomatosphere-US brought a beloved Canadian educational experiment across the border, giving American students a chance to explore plant biology and space science firsthand. Led by Ann Jorss of the American Seed Trade Association and developed by CASIS through the ISS National Laboratory, this project ran across Expeditions 47/48, 51/52, and 64 on the ISS.

The format mirrored earlier Tomatosphere projects: students received two groups of tomato seeds, one of which had been exposed to the space environment. Their job was to plant the seeds, record growth data, and analyze the results to determine which set had been in space. The true identity of the seed sets was only revealed after the experiment concluded, adding a layer of scientific rigor and excitement.

This version expanded outreach and impact in the U.S., helping to ignite student interest in STEM through hands-on experimentation. It highlighted critical questions in space agriculture—how do plants respond to microgravity and radiation?—while making those questions accessible to young learners.

Tomatosphere-US fostered both curiosity and scientific literacy, creating a generation of students more prepared to tackle challenges in space exploration and sustainability.

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