Mangrove seeds from two Maldivian islands – known locally as Baru Gass – have made a historic journey to space as part of a global research mission on adaptability.
The seeds, sourced from Kulhudhuffushi City and N. Kendhikulhudhoo, were delivered by the Maldives Space Research Organization (MSRO), under its initiative Mangroves in Space (MIS).
The seeds were successfully launched to the International Space Station (ISS) by the NASA's Space X Crew-11 on Friday, as part of the World Seeds mission spearheaded by Jaguar Space.
MSRO, a key partner in this collaborative effort, hailed this as a pivotal moment in the Maldives' contribution to global space agriculture research.
The mission, a global collection of 11 unique payloads, will investigate how seeds react to the unique stresses of the space environment and focuses on fundamental processes like gene activation and metabolic pathways essential for seed germination under microgravity conditions.
The mission, a global collection of 11 unique payloads, will investigate how seeds react to the unique stresses of the space environment. (Photo/Jaguar Space)
This research is crucial for enhancing crop resilience and advancing seed preservation techniques for both long-duration space missions and sustainable agriculture on Earth.
According to MSRO, the mangrove seeds were specifically chosen to reflect the Maldives’ deep connection to coastal ecosystems and climate resilience.
The experiment is exploring previously unexamined species, with the aim of integrating crops native to 11 countries into future space agriculture initiatives.
This integration is believed to be vital for fostering sustainable human exploration, enhancing nutritional diversity, and promoting cultural representation as humanity expands its presence in space.
Success! The MSRO Mangroves in Space mission has successfully launched to the International Space Station (ISS)! This historic moment marks a new chapter for the Maldives, as our mangrove seeds begin their journey of discovery in microgravity. We are honored to be part of… pic.twitter.com/DmnHkRbgyg
— Maldives Space Research Organisation (@Msromv) August 2, 2025
MSRO said that its involvement directly aligns with the mission's objectives to assess the suitability of plant species from emerging space nations for nutritional and functional applications in long-term human space exploration.
The mission will identify and characterize novel molecular pathways activated in response to microgravity, evaluating their potential relevance to agriculture, seed storage, and ecosystem sustainability on Earth.
The potential outcomes of this collaboration are significant, including the cultural, nutritional, and culinary representation of emerging space nations in space exploration. Moreover, the discovery of new molecular pathways could lead to innovative applications that address global challenges, such as achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for zero hunger and fostering stronger international partnerships.
“Beyond its scientific potential to advance research on climate resilience and global food security, the World Seeds payload represents a meaningful step toward ensuring that, as humanity becomes a spacefaring civilization, the millennia-old knowledge, biodiversity, and cultural heritage of communities around the world are carried forward as an essential part of that journey,” said Dr. Luis Zea, Founder of Jaguar Space.
Flamingoes in the mangrove lake in Kulhudhuffushi. (Photo/Mihaaz)
The seeds aboard the International Space Station are expected to return to Earth with NASA's Crew-10 at a date to be determined.
MSRO said it is honored to be part of an incredible array of international partners, including Argentina (CONAE), Brazil (Embrapa) + USA (University of Florida), Costa Rica (UCR), Guatemala (SENACYT), India (Protoplanet), Nigeria (NASRDA), Karman Project: Pakistan, Armenia, Egypt, Nigeria.
“This mission is more than just science—it’s a symbol of who we are. For the first time, the soul of the Maldives, embodied in our mangrove seeds, has reached space, carrying with it our hopes, our resilience, and a reaffirmation of our identity as people who have always looked to the stars. We’re honored to stand alongside our global partners and ensure that the journey to space includes the voices and aspirations of communities like ours,” said Madin Maseeh, President of MSRO.
Once the seeds return to Earth, MSRO will conduct extensive scientific analysis to analyze how spaceflight has affected these samples, with a primary focus on Earth use cases.
This payload is the first of many missions MSRO is planning under the Mangroves in Space initiative, which works towards understanding how microgravity affects crop resilience, food security and sustainable agriculture.