AHiS News: Space travel seeds for Asian Herb in Space Mission 2 have returned!

Asian Herb in Space (AHiS) was planned as the third project of the Space Seeds for Asian Future (SSAF) program. This project consists of two missions. In Mission 1, sweet basil and holy basil are grown on the International Space Station (ISS)/Kibo Module for about one month. After researchers from Japan and Malaysia analyze the collected samples to evaluate the effects of the space environment, students participating in the project are given the results and they also learn about space biology through their own ground experiments. In Mission 2, seeds selected from a range of countries are launched to the ISS/Kibo, stored for several months, and then returned to the ground. Students in the Asia-Pacific region grow these "space travel seeds" and experience space science.

In Mission 2, 22 herb seeds, selected from 11 countries and regions in the Asia-Pacific region, were coordinated by JAXA. The seeds were launched to Kibo on two separate flights as follows, taking into consideration the impact of international transportation by COVID-19. In the SpX-21, the experimental equipment for Mission 1 was also launched.

The 22 herb seeds launched in Mission 2 are familiar to children, as they are designated as the national flower or tree of each country or region, and are used in traditional cooking. For Mission 2, a wide variety of seeds were selected based on a broad interpretation of the term "herb" to include plants that contain active ingredients.

After the launch of the seeds, JAXA astronaut Hoshide took photos of the seeds on June 21, 2021 to confirm their storage status on Kibo. Then, on July 10, 2021 (JST) the seeds from Mission 2 and frozen samples from Mission 1 were returned to the ground via the SpX-22.

In the future, JAXA will return the herb seeds to their respective countries and regions. Educational programs will then be implemented in each region, where participating students will be able to grow space travel seeds and experience space science up close. These efforts will contribute to science education, human resource development, and the SDGs for youth in the Asia-Pacific region.