Soybeans have become the first crop to complete a growth cycle in space, producing normal seeds and proving the viability of growing vegetation in space to support long-term human habitation.
Soybean seeds were planted and nurtured for a DuPont research mission that concluded with the return of space shuttle Atlantis in October.
The seeds germinated, developed into plants, flowered and produced new seed pods aboard the International Space Station.
DuPont scientists have now examined the seeds and found that they are similar in physical and biological characteristics, developmental rate, morphology and yields to Earth-grown soybeans.
