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TOKYO (AFP) – Japan and India plan to
launch their first joint space research project this year, an
experiment in growing plants in zero gravity, a Japan
Aerospace Exploration Agency researcher said Friday.
The two Asian powers are set to launch a small and unmanned
Indian-made satellite in October, carrying Japanese laboratory
equipment, that is set to orbit for about one week at a height of
around 600 kilometres (370 miles).
Aboard the satellite they will seek to grow a type of algae,
said Noriaki Ishioka, a professor for Japan's space agency JAXA,
who called the experiment "a basic study on photosynthetic activity
in space."
"We will retrieve the satellite after a week or so and conduct
genetic examinations on how the zero-gravity environment affects
photosynthesis."
While the project could eventually pave the way for "space
farming," he cautioned that the basic experiment -- using a type of
algae called spirulina, not related to the food supplement of the
same name -- was an early step.
"Spirulina is edible, but it doesn't taste so good," he
said.
Japan already sends astronauts to the International Space Station and has conducted a variety
of space experiments in its Kibo laboratory.
But the joint project with the Indian
Space Research Organisation aims to allow Japan to diversify
its channels for space research.