Moss Project shows how some plants grow without gravity

Moss grew in these canisters while in orbit. These particular canisters were recovered by ground crews after the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon reentry into Earth's orbit. (Image courtesy of David Reed)

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Moss Project shows how some plants grow without gravity

Moss were grown inside the canisters in these small, square Petri dish fixation units, w...

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January 30, 2005 Experiments on moss grown aboard two Space Shuttle missions showed the plants didn't behave as scientists expected them to in the near-absence of gravity. The common roof moss (Ceratodon purpureus) grew in striking, clockwise spirals, according to Fred Sack. He is the study's lead investigator and professor of plant cellular and molecular biology at Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.

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