“So for that reason, it stands out as one of our most complex and most ambitious missions.” This artist’s impression of a blue jet observed from the International Space Station is related to the European Space Agency Thor-Davis investigation, which will photograph lightning from the vantage point of space. “It’s a very ambitious investigation, also one that really gets at the nature of what it means to live in a microgravity environment,” Costello said. The benefits could involve how to grow plants for multiple generations in space, but could also be used to help adapt plant life in challenging habitats on Earth, he said. “Not only because it involves multiple flights where we have to grow out the plant on orbit, take samples and then prep them on the ground for re-flight, but because it’s really looking at the genetic nature of how life responds to the microgravity environment, and stress that’s created from living in that environment.” “This investigation - Plant Habitat-03 - is probably our most complex mission to date,” Costello said. These seeds were then planted and are now headed back to space. It involves the seeds collected from plants that were grown in space and brought back to Earth just this past April on the return flight of SpaceX CRS-27. One of the science investigations he highlighted looks at plant genetics, headed up by University of Florida researchers Anna-Lisa Paul and Robert Ferl. Arabadopsis thaliana plants growing in the International Space Station’s Advanced Plant Habitat for PH-03, which looks at whether plants grown in space pass on adaptations to the next generation. He noted 31 investigations for NASA and international partners are making the trip up this time. Kirt Costello, chief scientist for the International Space Station Program Research Office during a conference call Friday. “SpaceX 28 launch brings a great mix of payloads to add to the over 3,700 investigations flown to the ISS to date,” said Dr. Also headed up is more food for the seven crew members on board including fresh apples, blueberries, grapefruit, oranges, cheese and tomatoes.
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