Maldives mangrove seeds sent to space station
This marks the first time the Maldives is contributing to a space-bound payload.
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The Maldives Space Research Organisation (MSRO) has announced that mangrove seeds from the Maldives have been included in the Earth Seeds for Space payload, which was launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on 31 July.
This marks the first time the Maldives is contributing to a space-bound payload.
The initiative is led by Jaguar Space and includes 11 payloads from several countries. The project aims to improve crop resilience, explore seed preservation techniques, and support agricultural advancements relevant to both extended space missions and terrestrial farming.
The Earth Seeds for Space payload also seeks to study lesser-known plant species for potential use in future space agriculture, with objectives including sustainable human space exploration, food diversity, and cultural representation.
In addition to the Maldives, other countries participating in this international collaboration include Argentina (CONAE), Brazil (Embrapa) and the United States (University of Florida), Costa Rica (UCR), Guatemala (SENACYT), India (Protoplanet), Nigeria (NASRDA), Pakistan, Armenia, and Egypt. The Karman Project is also involved in the mission.
MSRO stated that this effort highlights the collaborative potential of emerging space nations in contributing to scientific progress and agricultural innovation.
