The main objective of the project is to observe both qualitative and quantitative change in the development of Arabidopsis Thaliana plants caused by a short application of severe acceleration forces (in the range of 5g–40g).

A two staged rocket is used to generate the acceleration. An identical payload of young A. Thaliana plants is housed in each stage. The first stage acceleration is ~6g for 1.5 seconds, the second stage provides a short 0.2 seconds jolt of 40g and then acceleration continuously decreases to 0g at the second stage burnout (1.2 seconds into the second stage flight). An additional jolt of sudden deceleration (-20g) is experienced by the plants when the second stage burns out.

A third identical payload is kept on the ground as a control group (never flies). After the recovery of the payloads from both stages, some of the plants are used for immediate analysis, while others continue to grow under periodic observation and comparison with the control group.

The following quantities/qualities will be observed:

• Microscopic root analysis
  • number of branches
  • length and thickness of root
• Post-stain microscopic analysis (gene expression)
  • location, density and longevity of growth-promoting auxine in roots
• Long term development analysis
  • height, leaf count and root length profiles over long period of time (until full maturity)
  • seed yield

An up-to-date detailed description of the project can be found
in the Flight Readiness Review document in the Documents section.