Paper Session III-B - Soybean and Corn Seed Germination in Space: The First Plant Study Conducted on Space Station Alpha

The JOSE (JASON Outreach Seed Experiment) payload was the first plant study conducted on Space Station Alpha. The experiment consisted of having an on-orbit watering of eight seed pouches, each of which contained either six soybean or six corn seeds glued to a germination paper substrate. Two pouches containing corn plus two pouches containing soybean seeds were maintained in the light after watering. Two additional seed pouches of each species were maintained in the dark after watering. Digital photography was used to document the growth of the germinating seedlings in space. The images were down-linked and posted to a world wide web site for dissemination to students. Details relating to the experimental design are presented. Within species differences (between the light and dark grown seedlings) as well as between species differences (comparing corn and soybean) were observed