NASA has launched an experiment on the International Space Station (ISS) to study how plants grow and adapt in space. The ARTEMOSS experiment uses Antarctic moss samples exposed to simulated deep space radiation and microgravity to understand the effects of these conditions on plant biology.
The experiment, which is funded by a Space Biology grant, aims to identify molecular responses behind physiological adaptations to space environments. The research focuses on Ceratodon purpureus, a type of moss commonly used as a model organism in scientific studies.
After the samples were irradiated at NASA’s Space Radiation Lab, they were transported to Kennedy Space Center and launched into orbit aboard SpaceX-31 on November 4. Once on the ISS, the science bags containing live moss samples will be moved from cold storage to the cabin environment and allowed to grow for seven days. The samples will then be preserved in the ISS Glacier freezer.
The study’s findings could provide valuable insights into how plants adapt to space environments, which is crucial for future long-duration missions to Mars and beyond.
Source: https://astrobiology.com/2025/01/offworld-plant-biology-artemoss-experiment-launches-to-the-international-space-station.html