UF, Global Partners Send Seeds to ISS for Study

Researchers from the University of Florida are sending thousands of plant seeds—including strawberries, two types of orchids, and turf grass—from Florida to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The seeds will remain in space for about a week before returning to Earth for genetic analysis to study how microgravity and spaceflight stress affect plant genetics. The research aims to identify genes that help plants survive drought, heat, and cold, potentially leading to more resilient crops on Earth and improved food production in space. This experiment is part of a global collaboration with partners in Brazil, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Argentina. The findings are expected to support sustainable life-support systems for future missions to the Moon and Mars. The project builds on prior advances in space agriculture and highlights the importance of plant science for both terrestrial and extraterrestrial food security.