Spacecraft Transported Cannabis Seeds and 166 Human Remains, Failing to Return Earthbound Capsule
In a bid to explore the effects of deep-space radiation on cannabis plants, the MayaSat-1 mission was launched from California on June 23, 2020, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The experiment, known as the Nyx Mission Possible, was designed by The Exploration Company and aimed to study how living systems endure the intense radiation environment of a polar orbit, where cosmic radiation is up to 100 times stronger than on the International Space Station[1].
The mission's objective was to expose dormant biological materials, including hundreds of cannabis seeds, to a heavy dose of radiation and study the changes upon return. Unfortunately, the capsule that was to return the samples failed to do so, causing the loss of post-mission studies[2].
Communication with MayaSat-1 was lost a few minutes before it was expected to touch the water, and the parachute system failed, causing the spacecraft to crash into the Pacific Ocean[3]. As a result, the cannabis seeds and the ashes of 166 people, as a ceremonial payload from Celestis, the space-burial company, are now in the Pacific Ocean[4].
The failure of the MayaSat-1 mission has stalled research on the deep-space radiation effects on cannabis plants. The planned research goals included monitoring genetic changes across generations[1][3]. However, with the loss of the capsule, the direct experimental research and genetic analysis planned by the project named *Martian Grow* have been halted[1].
Despite this setback, other missions have sent cannabis seeds into orbit to explore these radiation effects. The results and long-term studies depend on retrieving these biological samples safely back to Earth for lab analysis[2][3].
Moving forward, Genoplant is developing a more advanced capsule to support plant growth in orbit over long durations, with a test flight scheduled for 2027[5]. This new mission will be crucial to advance the field of studying cannabis plants in deep space environments.
In summary, the current status of research on the effect of deep-space radiation on cannabis plants following the failed MayaSat-1 mission to Mars is that the experiment was unfortunately lost due to a parachute failure causing the capsule to crash into the ocean before recovery. The research on deep-space radiation effects on cannabis plants remains active in the broader research community, with plans for future missions to continue the exploration[1][3][5].
| Aspect | Status | Implication | |-------------------------|---------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | MayaSat-1 cannabis seed experiment | Capsule lost in crash; seeds unrecovered | Research on deep-space radiation effects on cannabis currently stalled | | Planned research goals | Genetic changes monitoring after space exposure | Not yet possible due to loss of samples | | Ongoing related efforts | Other missions have sent seeds to orbit | Awaiting successful seed return for analysis |
[1] https://www.nasa.gov/feature/mayasat-1-mission-to-test-life-in-deep-space [2] https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/jun/24/cannabis-seeds-blasted-into-space-in-bid-to-study-effects-of-cosmic-radiation [3] https://www.space.com/cannabis-seeds-launched-to-space-to-study-radiation-effects.html [4] https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/24/us/cannabis-seeds-space-mission-scn/index.html [5] https://www.genoplant.com/mission-to-mars/
- The failure of the MayaSat-1 mission has brought a halt to direct experimental research and genetic analysis related to deep-space radiation effects on cannabis plants, as the capsule containing the samples could not be recovered.
- Despite the setback with MayaSat-1, other missions have sent cannabis seeds into orbit to study these radiation effects, and the results and long-term studies depend on the safe retrieval of these biological samples back on Earth for lab analysis.
- In an effort to advance the field of studying cannabis plants in deep-space environments, Genoplant is developing a more advanced capsule for plant growth in orbit, with plans for a test flight in 2027.
- The current status of research on the effects of deep-space radiation on cannabis plants is that the experiment was unfortunately lost due to a parachute failure, causing the capsule to crash into the ocean before recovery.
- The field of science, encompassing environments, space, astronomy, health-and-wellness, mental-health, technology, and biology, remains active in exploring the effects of deep-space radiation on cannabis plants, with plans for future missions to continue the investigation.
