08/08/2025
We are going to space 😜
Yes, you read that right. Seeds from our very own mangroves will soon be orbiting the Earth.
The Maldives Space Research Organization (MSRO) has announced that Baru Gas seeds (Avicennia marina), commonly known as grey or white mangroves, will be launched into space this Thursday, July 31, aboard NASA’s Crew-11 mission. These seeds were collected with the assistance of the Kendhikulhudhoo and Kulhudhuffushi Councils and are part of an international research project called Earth Seeds for Space.
The goal? To study how different seeds react to the unique conditions of space, like zero gravity and radiation, and what that could mean for farming, food security, and conservation in the future.
Baru Gas from the Maldives will join a global seed squad: peanuts from Argentina, tomatoes from Costa Rica, maize from Guatemala, pomegranates from Armenia, Egyptian cotton, and wheat from Pakistan are all tagging along for the ride.
The results of this mission could help improve how we grow and preserve plants, both here on Earth and maybe someday….beyond it.
