Seed Morphology Experiment

This student experiment will be transferred to the ISS during docked operations between Endeavour and the ISS. The study supports the education objectives of the JASON Project.

The experiment utilizes digital photography as a means of documenting the growth of germinating soybean and corn seeds under extreme conditions (spaceflight and, elsewhere under water). The spaceflight images obtained are downlinked and posted to a web site for dissemination to students for their evaluation. Parallel classroom investigations are conducted by the students.

Eight seed pouches will be flown and germinated either under dark or lighted conditions. Each seed pouch contains a grid along its side to provide a scale for data extraction.

Seed Metabolite Experiment

This study explores potential new roles of flavonoids and isoflavonoids in the processes associated with adaptation of plants in general (and soybeans in particular) to microgravity. These compounds have been proposed to play many diverse roles in plants, including protection against insects, pathogens and UV light damage. This class of compounds may play a significant role in plant adaptation to the microgravity environment. The experiment consists of wetting three soybean seed pouches each day, starting at 7 days prior to scheduled landing (R-7) and continuing until R-1. Temperature and light intensity recorders will be used to document environmental conditions in the vicinity of the seed pouches.

After landing, the plants will be frozen to stabilize them for analysis. A delayed ground control experiment will be scheduled post-flight utilizing the KSC Orbiter Environmental Simulator Chamber.