International Space Experimental Programfrom Kibo for Geneeral Participation

ＳＳＡＦ２０１３
Space Seeds for A
Asian Future 2013

宇宙航空研究開発機構
Japan Aerospace Exploration
EAgencyWhat is the “InternationalSpace Station”?
Europe (11 countries) Russia
CanadaThe International Space Station is a facility
where astronauts live in for long periods oftime and perform various space

JapanUSAexperiments.
Currently, 15 countries participate in thisprogram.

ISS partner nations

Kibo

What is “Kibo”?
"Kibo" is an experimental facility of theInternational Space Station built by Japan.
Since summer of 2008, "Kibo" has been

International Space Station

widely used for conducting experiments toinvestigate the effect of gravity by using
plants and Rice‐fish
Rice fish, medical experiments
experiments,
scientific experiments such as study ofmaterials, and for the development oftechnologies toward future activities inspace.

Japanese Experiment Module “Kibo”‐11‐Why are plant experimen
nts performed in space?
There are two major objectives.
The first objective is to investigate theresponse of plants against gravity.
Present day plants that live on land used tolive under water a long time ago. Whenplants evolved to the land, theyy developedpp amechanism to respond to gravity throughthe process of evolution. What type of
response do plants exhibit when theThe second objective is to confirm if

strength of gravity is diminished? On theplants can grow in space the same way

other hand, we can investigate a plant'sthat they grow on earth.

response toward gravity by studying thetype of changes that occur when gravity isIf we are able to grow plants in space, theincreased.

astronauts will be able to eat fresh
vegetables during any time. Also, plants not
only serve as food source but they canconvert carbon dioxide produced by humanbeings into oxygen through photosynthesis.
In addition, plants have an effect thatrelaxes people. We perform experiments
using different plants in order to achieve a
comfortable living in space.

The International Space Station is usefuluto conduct such experiments.

‐22‐

Plant experiments perfo
ormed in “Kibo" to date

Subject: Life cycle
Plant: Thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana)(related to Sheperd's purse)

The process starting from seed germination, to flowering, toseed production is called life cycle. We perforrmed experiments
to investigate if plants can make seeds in space.

Thale cress was grownin space approximately
for one month.

Subject: Anti‐gravity

Subject: Hydrotropism, morphogenesis

Plant: Thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana),

Plant: Cucumber

rice plant (Oryza sativa)
We performed experiments to investigate
We performed experiments to investigate

the mechanism of a plant's roots to growthe mechanism of a plant's structure totowards water, and study the relationshipwithstand the force of gravity.

between the distribution andtransportation of plant hormones(substances that regulate the plant'sgrowth) and their effect on the shaping ofa plant.

Astronaut Hoshide watering Thale cress

Astronaut Furukawa watering a cucumber plant

NASA astronauts performing
experiments with rice plants‐33‐

International Collaborations
CJAXA aims to maximize the value of "Kibo"
by spreading the word of "Kibo" to otherpeople around the world, and by sharing theuse of "Kibo" with other Asia‐Pacificcountries in order to promote thedistribution of its many progress around theworld. We are in preparations for developing
an international collaboration program using"Kibo", and eight Asia‐Pacific countries“Space Seeds” and astronauts inincluding Japan are working together

the ISS

towards this program which we named"Kibo‐ABC".

In 2011, as a first attempt to use "Kibo" incollaboration with other Asian countries, an"Asian Seeds" program was launched, whereseeds from plants collected in Indonesia,
Indonesia
Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam weretransported to "Kibo" and returned to earth
after a few months. The "space seeds"brought back to earth were used incultivation contests with students
participating from all over Asia, increasing

Logo of Kibo-ABC(Designed by ANGKASA)

people's interest in the International SpaceKibo‐ABC member countries as of April, 2013:

Station and zero gravity. Also, experiments

Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New

were performed to compare theZealand, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam

germination and growth of the space seeds
pintowith seeds that were not transportedspace.

‐44‐

What is SS
SAF2013?
Following countries will participate in thisprogram.

The second "Asian seeds" program isplanned for 2013. An experiment will beAustralia

performed to grow Azuki beans forIndonesia

seven days at “Kibo" in the InternationalSpace Station. Astronauts will film theJapan

sprouting of Azuki beans grown in space

Malaysia

and transmit the images to earth.
New ZealandThailand

General public participation will beencouraged in this program. TheVietnam

You are also
invited toparticipate in thisspaceexperiment.
pparticipants will grow Azuki beans on earth
the same way as the astronauts.
Growth patterns will be compared with theimages transmitted from space. YourCCompare
theh growthh pattern off plantslon

recorded observations can be submitted toearth with the observed growth pattern ofus by e‐mail and compared with otherplants in space. Compare your results withpeople's results.

the results from people in other countries.
ISS

Think of how the environment of zerogravity in space affects the plants.

HTV

Image transfer

Logo of SSAF2013
LaunchJAXA

Web distribution(Designed by NSTDA)*SSAF2013: Space Seeds for Asian Future 2013‐55‐

Azuki bean space experim
ment conducted in “Kibo”* Time scheduled: Summer 2013
(scheduled)
Please check our website for further updates.
http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/kuoa/ssaf/

Find me in thewebsite!

Container used

* Azuki bean variety: Erimoshouzu

Azuki bean seeds buriedin rock wool** Container: Plastic
Size: 21 cm wide,d 15 cm tall,ll 4 cm ddeep* Material for planting seed: Rock wool
* Experimental procedure in space:1)) 18 Azuki bean seeds will be p
planted intorock wool and sent to space in a dehydrated
condition.
2) A syringe will be used to water the seeds
and they will be cultivated inside an opaque
plasticl ti b
bag aboardb d “Kibo".
“Kib "
3) After 7 days (scheduled), the sprouts(developing Azuki plant) will be taken out
and filmed with a video camera to transmit
the images to earth.
Experimental kit used in thespace experiment4) The sprouts will be taken out and theirstems bent or pulled to determine their
suppleness.
Contents of the experiment
may be partially changed.

‐66‐

Guide for SSAF2013
3 ground experiment
1. Materials to prepare* Experimental guide (this booklet)* Azuki bean seeds* Material for planting seeds (sponge, etc.)* Container* Cutter knife* Permanent marker* Aluminum foil

Azuki bean seeds

Container

2. Let's observe the Azuki bean seedSpongeUse of a clear container will
be convenient to makeobservations from theoutside.

The size of an Azuki bean seed is 7 mm
× 5 mm long.
The white line in the center is called the"hilum"
hilum .

Let’s begin theexperiment.

Distance to theend is long

Hilum

Distance to theend is short

Cross section
Cotyledon

The sprout emerges fromhere.
Planting this side up will
result in a straight sprout.

PlumuleeEpicottylHilum

The lleaves andThd stemtare
inside the seed.

‐77‐

3. How to plant seeds①①Cut the sponge in half using
the cutter knife. By cutting it intot pieces,
twoiththe experimentit canbe done twice.
②Use the permanent marker tomark the sponge where the seedplanted.
will be p③Use the cutter knife to cut ahole on the mark deep enoughto bury the seed.
④Plant the seed inside the holehole.
Place the seeded sponge inside
the container.
⑤Add sufficient water to thesponge.
⑥Cover the container with thelid, wrap the container withaluminum foil to keep it dark,
and grow the Azuki bean.
(The growing temperature in“Kibo" is approximately 22‐23degrees.)

It isi easier to cut from either side with the cutterknnife. Ask an adult to help you if you find thisdiffficult.

②

Be careful not to cut yourself
when using the cutter knife.

③
Three hoorizontal holes andthree verrtical holes weremade forr a total of nine holes.

④

Securely insert the seed in the spongewith the sprouting end face up.

⑤⑥Tilt the container to discard
any extra water not absorbedby the sponge.
When the Azuki bean starts to sprout, remove thelid so that it does not bend the sprout, and recover the container with aluminum foil to keep itdark. You can also use a box to cover it to kee
ep
the light out.

‐88‐

You can find how toobservebth
the seeds
din the next page.

4. How to make observationsFirst, the root emerges followed by thegrowing stem. Take different recordings bymeasuringi it
its llength
th using
i a ruler,l makeksketches, and take photos. If the plant wasgrown in the dark, keep the observation
time brief to prevent prolonged light
exposure.
When will it start to sprout after watering?
Observe any changes after the seeds start tosprout.

First, the root
emerges from theseed.

【Tip】 When making observations in the dark,
use a flashlight that is covered with a green
cellophane wrap.
Next, the stem
emerges from theseed.

How aboutsome Azuki
beans?

When you have finished with
the Azuki bean experiment,ttransplantl t it ini a planterl t or thethground and continue growing it.

AAppearance
off a growing
i pea

5. Application guideIn this guide, the Azuki bean seed was planted in the sponge with the sprouting side up as
in the space experiment, but consider:• What type of changes would occur if the hilu
um's planting direction is changed bypositioning it downwards or horizontally? Wou
uld there be any changes in the direction ofgrowth of the root or stem?
• Would there be any changes in the growth between placing it in a light or darkenvironment?

Come up with other different ideeas to investigate some more!!

‐99‐

How to submit your experimentaleresults

Submit your recorded
observations of the Azuki
bean that you grew

★ Submit your results to:SSAF2013@jaxa.jp
Your observation records

PrepareJAXASubmit1)) Prepare
pyyour reportp and save it in PDF format.
*Your report may appear on JAXA website as it is. Please do not include any
ose in your report.
information that you do not want to disclo2) Attach the file to e-mail and send to SSAF2013@jaxa.jp
SNote: JAXA is not responsible for direct, indirect,
indirect incidental
incidental, or consequential
damages resulting from any defect, error, or failure in the report.

Observe the differences in color, shape anda size to the space experiment’s, andthink of the reasons for these differencess.

Compare yourresults with the Azuki
bean grown in space.

Compare yourresults witheveryone else’s.

‐100‐

There are people
from different
countriest i ini thethInternational Space
Station and they arehaving fun.

Astronaut Wakata
Wwill
be the new captain ofthe Internattional
Space Station. Nice tomeet yyou!

NotePlease visit the JAXA website for
updated information.
http://iss.jaxa.jp/en/kuoa/ssaf/

They are thenew astronauts
in training. Let’s
give them acheer!

Supervising editor： Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
Collaborators： Kouichi Soga, Osaka City University
Biology club, Osaka City University
Production： Advanced Engineering Services Co., Ltd.
Logo design： National Space Agency of Malaysia
National Science and Technology
Development Agency of Thailand