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Two Ladakh-native superfoods—seabuckthorn and Himalayan (tartary) buckwheat—were sent to the International Space Station (ISS) on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission (launched July 31–Aug 1, 2025; docked in early August) as part of Jaguar Space’s “World Seeds / Emerging Space Nations – Space for Agriculture & Agriculture for Space” payload. The Indian contribution was coordinated with Bengaluru-based Protoplanet. The goal is to observe pre-germination responses of seeds to microgravity and space stressors and assess their food/agriculture potential for long-duration missions. (Jaguar Space, SpaceWatch.GLOBAL, GKToday)
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After exposure on the ISS, the payload returned to Earth in August 2025 for planting/analysis, with outlets noting recovery alongside Crew-10 splashdown and post-flight studies. (India Today, OB News)
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NASA’s ongoing plant research on ISS uses controlled media (e.g., “seed pillows”) to study growth under microgravity—context for how such seed payloads are handled on orbit. (NASA Science)
Question 1:
Which Ladakh crops were sent to the International Space Station (ISS) for a NASA-led microgravity seed study?
A) Green gram and fenugreek
B) Seabuckthorn and Himalayan (tartary) buckwheat
C) Barley and finger millet
D) Amaranth and sorghum
Answer: B
Explanation: Reports confirm seabuckthorn and Himalayan buckwheat seeds from Ladakh were included in Jaguar Space’s World Seeds payload flown on NASA’s Crew-11 to the ISS. (Jaguar Space, SpaceWatch.GLOBAL)
Question 2:
What is the primary objective of sending these Ladakh seeds to space?
A) To produce vitamin supplements on-orbit
B) To test nuclear radiation shielding using seeds
C) To study seed responses before germination under microgravity for future space food applications
D) To test automated harvesting robots
Answer: C
Explanation: The experiment focuses on pre-germination molecular/physiological responses to microgravity/space stress, assessing their potential as resilient food sources for long missions. (GKToday, SpaceWatch.GLOBAL)
Question 3:
Which organization leads the international seed payload that included the Ladakh seeds?
A) ISRO’s VSSC
B) Jaguar Space
C) FAO
D) European Space Agency (ESA)
Answer: B
Explanation: The Ladakh seeds were part of Jaguar Space’s “World Seeds / Emerging Space Nations” payload involving 11 countries, flown aboard NASA’s Crew-11. (Jaguar Space, SpaceWatch.GLOBAL)
Question 4:
Which statement best describes the mission timeline reported for the Ladakh seed experiment?
A) Launched in 2023 and still on orbit
B) Launched with Crew-11 in late July/early August 2025, docked in early August, and returned in mid-August 2025 for analysis
C) Launched in 2022 and returned in 2024
D) Scheduled for launch in 2026
Answer: B
Explanation: Press material and news coverage indicate Crew-11 launch around July 31–Aug 1, 2025, docking in early August; media noted return in mid-August 2025 for planting/analysis. (Jaguar Space, SpaceWatch.GLOBAL, India Today)
Question 5:
What Indian entity is cited as sourcing/coordinating the Ladakh seeds for the payload?
A) DRDO Life Sciences
B) Protoplanet (Bengaluru)
C) Indian Institute of Millets Research
D) National Innovation Foundation
Answer: B
Explanation: Multiple reports identify Protoplanet, a Bengaluru-based space startup, as the Indian collaborator that sourced the seabuckthorn and Himalayan buckwheat seeds from Ladakh. (GKToday)
