Vietnam successfully sends flower seeds to space

Vietnam successfully sent flower seeds to space for scientific research.

This project, "Space seeds for Asian Future 2010-2011 (SSAF 2010-2011)" was organised in co-operation with space and scientific agencies from Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.

The seeds of three species of flowers were selected by Associate Professor Duong Tan Nhut, a leading expert in flower research in Vietnam, and then sent to Japan to be processed before they were sent to space.

Together with plant seeds from other partnering countries, the seeds were successfully carried by a Japanese missile on January 22 to "KIBO," one of the key components of the International Space Station (ISS).

The seeds will be retrieved in April, said Dr Nhut.

After returning to Earth, the seeds will be studied to see if any gene mutations or sprouting occurred during their tenure in space. This is the first time Vietnam has carried out such research.

In Vietnam, the programme is being managed by the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and Central Highlands Institute for Biology.

The programme hopes that the results of the experiment will inspire students across Asia and boost interest in science.