Noble Foundation experiment launched into space

NEWS RELEASE
Issued - April 5, 2010

ARDMORE, Okla. — This morning at 6:21 a.m. (EST), the Discovery Space Shuttle launched from Kennedy Space Center, carrying a Noble Foundation experiment in its scientific cargo.

Elison Blancaflor, Ph.D., a principal investigator and associate professor at the Noble Foundation, is one of three scientists nationwide to receive a two-year, $142,000 NASA grant that included an opportunity to rocket his plant science research into orbit. "It was unbelievable to see the shuttle launch, knowing that my experimental plants were going up into space," he said. "This has been a truly amazing day."

As part of NASA's Biological Research in Canisters (BRIC) research project, the Blancaflor-led research team packed Arabidopsis (thale cress) seedlings inside 14 Petri dishes where they will be exposed to weightlessness for almost two weeks. While in orbit, the seedlings will be treated with chemicals that will preserve the structure and genetic components of the plant cells. This will enable Blancaflor to evaluate how the lack of gravity affects the growth and development of plants.

The research project will afford Blancaflor an opportunity to advance his study of the gravitropism phenomenon. In essence, gravitropism allows for correct anchorage, nutrient and water acquisition, seedling emergence and light absorption for photosynthesis - all of which have a significant impact on agriculture. "The best place to study gravitropism and gravity-related biological phenomena is in space where gravity is absent," Blancaflor said. "This provides the best experimental control to compare with earth-grown plants where gravity is always present."

Furthermore, Blancaflor's project has implications for future space exploration. NASA is interested in understanding how plants develop in space because plants are an important component of regenerative life support systems, providing sources of oxygen and food if humans were to embark on long-term space missions.

In late January, Blancaflor received notification that he had earned the BRIC grant, alongside researchers from the University of Florida and Miami University at Oxford, Ohio. The team will return to Kennedy Space Center in mid-April for the space shuttle's landing to process their samples and then return to the Noble Foundation's Ardmore, Okla., campus for further testing.

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Photos:: STS-131 Mission; STS-131 Mission; STS-131 Mission

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For media inquiries concerning the Noble Foundation, please contact:

J. Adam Calaway

jacalaway@noble.org

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc. (www.noble.org), headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a nonprofit organization conducting agricultural, forage improvement and plant biology research; assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs; and providing grants to nonprofit charitable, educational and health organizations.