NASA researcher flies Blue Origin rocket to study plants in space
For the first time in history, a NASA-funded researcher will accompany their experiment on a commercial suborbital rocket. The milestone will take place aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard suborbital rocket system, which is expected to launch no earlier than Thursday, Aug. 29. The experiment, developed by a team from the University of Florida in Gainesville, will seek to investigate how gravitational changes during spaceflight affect plant biology. The mission, funded by NASA’s Flight Opportunities program, represents a significant advance in space-based research and could have important implications for future space missions to the Moon and Mars.
Research into the impact of gravity on plant biology
The main focus of the University of Florida experiment is to understand how gravity shifts affect plant gene expression, according to NASA. Rob Ferl, a researcher at the university, will personally manage the payload during the flight. He will activate small, self-contained tubes pre-loaded with plants and preservatives, which will biochemically freeze the samples at various stages of gravity. This innovative approach will allow scientists to collect precise data on how the plant’s biological processes respond to the varying gravitational forces experienced during spaceflight.
During the mission, co-principal investigator Anna-Lisa Paul will conduct four identical ground experiments as controls. The results from these ground experiments will be compared to data obtained during spaceflight to gain a comprehensive understanding of the effects of gravity on plant growth. The research aims to shed light on how plants can grow and develop in space, a crucial area of study for long-term space missions where sustainable food production will be essential.
Significance for future space missions
This research could have far-reaching implications for future space exploration, particularly missions that involve extended stays on the Moon or Mars. Understanding how plants respond to different gravitational conditions is crucial to developing sustainable life support systems in space. If this experiment is successful, it could pave the way for more advanced research into space agriculture, helping to ensure that astronauts have a reliable food source during long-term missions.
The university’s flight test was made possible by a grant awarded through the Flight Opportunities program’s TechFlights application, with additional support from NASA’s Division of Biological and Physical Sciences. The Flight Opportunities program is part of NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, which facilitates the demonstration of space exploration technologies through suborbital testing with industry flight providers. By enabling researchers to test their technologies in a relevant space environment, the program accelerates the pace of innovation and helps expand the possibilities of space travel.
Testing of thermal protection systems
In addition to the University of Florida experiment, the upcoming New Shepard flight will also carry another NASA-supported payload developed by HeetShield, a small company based in Flagstaff, Arizona. HeetShield Experiment will test two new thermal protection system materials by mounting them to the outside of New Shepard’s propulsion module. The goal is to evaluate how these materials perform under conditions similar to planetary entry, which will provide valuable data for the development of more effective heat shields for future space missions. After the flight, the HeetShield team will analyze the materials to determine how they were affected by the flight and assess their potential for use in space exploration.
Advances in space technology and research
The Flight Opportunities program plays a critical role in the advancement of space technology by providing researchers with the opportunity to test their innovations in space. Whether it’s understanding how plants grow in space or developing new materials for thermal protection, these experiments are vital to the future of space exploration. As the first NASA-supported researcher to fly on a commercial suborbital rocket, Rob Ferl’s mission marks a significant step forward in the quest to expand our knowledge of space and develop the technologies needed for successful long-term missions beyond Earth.
