Human Life Research on ISS Russian Segment

BEANS Experiment

Experiment BEANS forms part of the scientific research program performed by Italian Astronaut Roberto Vittori (ESA) on the Russian Segment of the ISS in the frame of ENEIDE ISM Project. The European Space Agency is a customer of the preparation and implementation of the research program.

Objective:

Have good involvement of students in the implemention of space missions program and increase their knowledge of space, both in terms of what the space environment is and in which are the potential application of the space technology. During the experiment students will investigate the conditions that lead to the germination of seeds and observe in parallel the early stages of the plant life cycle on earth and in space.

Task:

Plants (beans) germination on the ISS RS.

Science Hardware Used:

• SBS Container is a sealed plastic bag with the paper towel, 6 bean seeds inside and the 20ml water container.

Support Facilities:

• Camcorder DSR PD-150P;
• Camera Nikon D1X.

Consumables:

• 256 kB memory card.

Experiment Results:

• Germinated bean seeds returned to the ground.
• Photo and video data recorded on a memory card demonstrating seeds germination process.