For the first time in history, a NASA-funded researcher will accompany their experiment on a commercial suborbital rocket. This milestone will take place aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard suborbital rocket system, which is scheduled to launch no earlier than Thursday, August 29. The experiment, developed by a team from the University of Florida in Gainesville, seeks to investigate how gravitational changes during spaceflight impact plant biology. This mission, funded by NASA’s Flight Opportunities program, represents a significant step forward in space-based research and could have important implications for future space missions to the Moon and Mars.

Exploring Gravity’s Impact on Plant Biology

The key focus of the University of Florida’s experiment is to understand how gravity shifts affect the gene expression of plants, according to NASA. Rob Ferl, a researcher at the university, will personally tend to the payload during the flight. He will activate small, self-contained tubes pre-loaded with plants and preservatives, which will biochemically freeze the samples at different stages of gravity. This innovative approach will enable scientists to capture precise data on how the plant’s biological processes respond to the varying gravitational forces experienced during spaceflight.

During the mission, co-principal investigator Anna-Lisa Paul will perform four identical experiments on the ground as a control. The results from these ground-based experiments will be compared with the data obtained from the spaceflight to provide a comprehensive understanding of gravity’s effects on plant growth. The research aims to shed light on how plants might grow and develop in space, a critical area of study for long-duration space missions where sustainable food production will be essential.

Significance for Future Space Missions

This research could have far-reaching implications for future space exploration, particularly missions that involve extended stays on the Moon or Mars. Understanding how plants respond to different gravitational conditions is crucial for developing sustainable life support systems in space. If successful, this experiment could pave the way for more advanced research in space agriculture, helping to ensure that astronauts have a reliable source of food on long-term missions.

The university’s flight test was made possible by a grant awarded through the Flight Opportunities program’s TechFlights solicitation, with additional support from NASA’s Division of Biological and Physical Sciences. The Flight Opportunities program is part of NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, which facilitates the demonstration of technologies for space exploration through suborbital testing with industry flight providers. By enabling researchers to test their technologies in a relevant space environment, the program accelerates the pace of innovation and helps to expand the capabilities of space commerce.

Testing Thermal Protection Systems

In addition to the University of Florida’s experiment, the upcoming New Shepard flight will also carry another NASA-supported payload developed by HeetShield, a small business based in Flagstaff, Arizona. HeetShield’s experiment will test two new thermal protection system materials by mounting them on the outside of the New Shepard’s propulsion module. The goal is to evaluate how these materials perform under conditions similar to planetary entry, which will provide valuable data for developing more effective heat shields for future space missions. After the flight, the HeetShield team will analyse the materials to determine how they were affected by the flight and assess their potential for use in space exploration.

Advancing Space Technology and Research

The Flight Opportunities program plays a critical role in advancing space technology by providing researchers with the opportunity to test their innovations in space. Whether it’s understanding how plants grow in space or developing new materials for thermal protection, these experiments are vital for the future of space exploration. As the first NASA-supported researcher to fly on a commercial suborbital rocket, Rob Ferl’s mission marks a significant step forward in the quest to expand our knowledge of space and develop the technologies needed for successful long-term missions beyond Earth.