Why in News?

ISRO has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in space agriculture with its Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies (CROPS) aboard the PSLV-C60 mission.

The successful germination of cowpea seeds in space marks a major step in understanding plant biology in microgravity conditions.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Key Highlights of the ISRO’s CROPS Mission
• What is the POEM-4 Platform?
• What is the SpaDeX Mission?
• Conclusion

Key Highlights of the ISRO’s CROPS Mission:

• About: The CROPS payload, developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), is envisioned as a multi-phase platform to develop and evolve ISRO’s capabilities for growing and sustaining flora in extra-terrestrial environments.
• Successful germination in space:
  • Launch details: The CROPS experiment was launched on December 30, 2024, aboard ISRO's PSLV-C60 mission.
  • Experiment setup: Cowpea seeds were housed in the POEM-4 platform, which repurposes the PSLV rocket’s fourth stage for scientific research.
  • Results: Within four days of launch, eight cowpea seeds sprouted their first leaves, demonstrating plant growth potential in space.
• Significance of the CROPS experiment:
  • Understanding microgravity effects: The experiment provides crucial insights into how plants adapt and grow in the unique environment of space.
  • Supporting deep space exploration: Insights from the CROPS experiment are essential for long-duration missions, such as those to Mars, by helping develop sustainable life support systems.
  • Contributions to astrobotany: The successful sprouting of seeds enhances global research on growing food in extraterrestrial environments.
• Broader implications: (POEM-4 and collaborative research)
  • Payload diversity: The POEM-4 module carries 24 payloads, including experiments from ISRO and academic institutions.
  • Public-private collaboration: The mission underscores the importance of cooperation between government and private entities to advance space science.
• Future applications:
  • Ensuring food security in space: The data from this experiment could pave the way for sustainable agricultural systems in space, ensuring food availability for astronauts on extended missions.
  • Deep space mission readiness: Research like CROPS is instrumental for humanity’s ambitious goals of Mars colonization and beyond.

What is the POEM-4 Platform?

• About:
  • Also known as PSLV Orbital Experiment Module (POEM)-4, it is a space research platform that uses the spent fourth stage of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) to conduct experiments in microgravity.
  • It is part of the ISRO SpaDeX Mission, and is the fourth deployment of the POEM platform. It has a capacity that is three times greater than the previous POEM-3 platform.
• Other facts:
  • Experiments: Includes experiments on robotics, sensors, space science, and proof-of-concept technologies.
  • Benefits: Helps validate technologies for future missions, and provides data for space medicine and Earth applications.
  • Payloads: 24 payloads from ISRO, start-ups, and educational institutions.
• Some of the payloads on the POEM-4 platform include:
  • Walking Robotic Arm (RRM-TD): A robotic manipulator that can move in an inchworm-like motion for inspection and servicing.
  • Debris Capture Robotic Manipulator: A VSSC innovation that can capture and manipulate debris to help with space clean-up.
  • Gradient Control Reaction Wheel Assembly (RWA): An IISU payload that uses reaction wheels to improve the POEM platform's attitude stabilization. 

What is the SpaDeX Mission?

• SpaDeX mission is a cost-effective technology demonstrator mission for the demonstration of in-space docking using two small spacecraft launched by PSLV.
• This technology is essential for India’s space ambitions such as Indian on Moon, sample return from the Moon, the building and operation of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), etc.
• In-space docking technology is essential when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives.
• Through this mission, India is marching towards becoming the fourth country in the world to have space docking technology.

Conclusion:

ISRO’s CROPS experiment represents a significant leap in space research, demonstrating India's capability in astrobotany and its commitment to addressing the challenges of long-term space exploration.

The successful germination of cowpea seeds aboard the PSLV-C60 mission sets the stage for further advancements in sustainable space agriculture and deep-space missions.