In 1990, NASA recovered tomato seeds after nearly 6 years on LDEF; classroom tests found space seeds germinated at 73.8% versus 70.3% for Earth controls

In 1990, NASA recovered tomato seeds after nearly 6 years on LDEF; classroom tests found space seeds germinated at 73.8% versus 70.3% for Earth controls

After nearly six years aboard NASA&039;s LDEF satellite, Rutgers tomato seeds returned to Earth to inspire young scientists. Millions of students participated in classroom experiments where they planted both space-exposed and terrestrial seeds. Observations revealed that the seeds exposed to space conditions generally germinated at a faster pace and with higher success rates, providing intriguing evidence about the resilience of seeds after prolonged exposure to outer space.