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Shubhanshu Shukla Grows Moong & Methi on ISS

🌱 Growing Life Beyond Earth: How Shubhanshu Shukla Cultivated Moong and Fenugreek on the ISS

In a groundbreaking move that bridges agriculture and space science, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force marked a major milestone aboard the International Space Station (ISS). As part of the historic Axiom Mission 4, Shukla didn’t just represent India in space—he took Indian agriculture along with him by growing moong (green gram) and methi (fenugreek) in microgravity.

This was not just a symbolic gesture, but a part of serious scientific research into space farming, crucial for the future of long-duration space missions and sustainable life beyond Earth.


🚀 Why Grow Plants in Space?

As humanity plans for extended stays on the Moon, Mars, and even further, the ability to grow fresh food in space is vital. This ensures:

Moong and methi were specifically chosen due to:


🌿 Shubhanshu Shukla’s Experiment on the ISS

🧪 The Setup

Carried aboard the ISS in controlled seed chambers:

🛰️ The Challenges in Microgravity

Growing plants in space is not as simple as placing a seed in soil. Shukla’s experiment had to overcome:

Despite these, the plants germinated successfully and began showing healthy shoot and leaf development.


🌾 What Happened to the Seeds Afterward?

🔬 Harvesting and Seed Collection

After the growth phase:

🧑‍🔬 Back to Earth: For Future Generations

Once returned to Earth:

The aim is to use these seeds in future space farming modules and possibly develop new climate-resilient crops for Earth.


🌍 Why This Matters for India and the World

🇮🇳 For India:

🌌 For the World:


💡 A New Era Begins

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla has not just grown seeds in orbit—he has sown the vision for the future of food, farming, and interplanetary survival. The humble moong and methi he nurtured may one day feed astronauts traveling to Mars or growing crops on a lunar base.

His mission is a reminder that in the race to space, we must also learn to grow, sustain, and live.


🌠 Final Thought:

“When seeds grow in space, they don’t just sprout leaves—they blossom into symbols of hope, resilience, and the boundless potential of human ingenuity.”

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