Mangrove seeds from two islands in the Maldives were sent to the International Space Station (ISS) on Friday.
The seeds were taken from mangrove in Haa Dhaal Kulhudhuffushi and Noonu Kendhokulhudhoo and handed over to NASA by the Maldives Space Research Organization.
"This mission is more than just a scientific mission. It is a symbol of who Maldivians are. For the first time, the spirit of the Maldives, in the form of a mangrove seed, has reached space," said Maldives Space Research Organization President Maadhin Maseeh.
NASA's SpaceX Crew-11, launched from the Kennedy Space Station in Florida on Friday, will dock with the ISS today.
Tube containing mangrove seeds from Maldives.
The seeds were sent to space under the World Seed Mission. Different types of seeds from 11 countries were sent during the mission. They are the Maldives, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, India, Guatemala, Nigeria, Armenia, Egypt, Pakistan and Nigeria.
The project will study how seeds respond to the unique conditions of space, like microgravity and radiation. The seeds will be brought back to Earth with NASA's Crew-10, which is currently on the space station.
Once the seeds are returned, the Maldives Space Research Organization will analyse them to determine the changes. The analysis is expected to provide important information for the future.
The Maldives Space Research Organization was established in 2022. The association is doing important work for the future of the Maldives. These include various important environmental activities.
