In August 2025, two indigenous crops from Ladakh—Seabuckthorn and Himalayan (Tartary) Buckwheat—completed a pioneering journey to space as part of NASA’s Crew-11 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

• The seeds, known for their nutritional richness, medicinal value, and ability to survive harsh terrain, spent over a week in microgravity before being brought back to Earth on August 9, 2025, by the returning Crew-10 team.

• This marked the first experiment of its kind for Ladakh crops in orbit. The goal is to understand how space factors like microgravity, radiation, and temperature fluctuations affect seed biology before germination.

• The experiment is part of the “Emerging Space Nations’ Space for Agriculture & Agriculture for Space” initiative, a collaborative international project involving multiple countries.

• The seeds will now be planted in Ladakh to study whether exposure to space influences growth, resilience, or yield.

• Experts believe such research could pave the way for using hardy crops in long-duration space missions and contribute to future food security strategies on Earth.

(Sources: NDTV, Times of India, Economic Times)

MCQs for Entrance Examinations

Question 1:
Which two Ladakh crops were sent to the International Space Station (ISS) for the recent space experiment?
A) Barley and Amaranth
B) Seabuckthorn and Himalayan Buckwheat
C) Finger Millet and Sorghum
D) Rice and Wheat
Answer: B
Explanation: Seabuckthorn and Himalayan Buckwheat, both highly resilient and nutrient-rich crops native to Ladakh, were chosen for the NASA-led ISS experiment.

Question 2:
Which NASA mission carried the Ladakh seeds to the ISS, and which mission brought them back?
A) Crew-9 carried and Crew-8 returned them
B) Crew-11 carried and Crew-10 returned them
C) Crew-8 carried and Crew-7 returned them
D) Crew-10 carried and Crew-9 returned them
Answer: B
Explanation: The seeds were taken by NASA’s Crew-11 to the ISS and later brought back by Crew-10, which splashed down on August 9, 2025.

Question 3:
What is the main scientific aim of sending Ladakh seeds to space?
A) To test nuclear radiation resistance of crops
B) To study seed responses before germination under space stress
C) To manufacture medicines in microgravity
D) To prepare seeds for Mars colonization directly
Answer: B
Explanation: The primary aim is to study how microgravity, radiation, and temperature fluctuations affect the seeds before germination, assessing their resilience and future use in space agriculture.

Question 4:
Under which international program were the Ladakh seeds included in the ISS experiment?
A) Artemis Accords Agricultural Project
B) FAO Food Security Mission
C) Emerging Space Nations’ “Space for Agriculture & Agriculture for Space”
D) ISRO–NASA Gaganyaan Crop Study
Answer: C
Explanation: The experiment is part of the Emerging Space Nations’ “Space for Agriculture & Agriculture for Space” initiative, which studies how plants endure unique space stresses.

Question 5:
Why were Seabuckthorn and Himalayan Buckwheat specifically selected for this experiment?
A) They are genetically modified crops
B) They are native to polar regions
C) They survive in extreme terrains and have high medicinal/nutritional value
D) They grow only in waterlogged conditions
Answer: C
Explanation: Both crops are known for their hardiness in harsh terrain and their medicinal and nutritional properties, making them ideal candidates for testing in challenging environments like space.