NASA sent 10 million basil seeds to space, inspiring nearly 1 million students

The seeds were being carried by teacher-turned-astronaut Barbara Morgan, who was finally making her long-awaited journey into space after a 22-year wait A seed does not look like much. Tucked into a packet, it is barely noticeable, carrying the promise of a plant in a form that seems almost impossibly small. But in 2007, millions of them became part of an experiment that linked a Space Shuttle mission, classrooms across the US and a much bigger question: could humans one day grow plants on the Moon?On August 8, 2007, Space Shuttle Endeavour lifted off on its STS-118 mission carrying approximately 10 million cinnamon basil seeds as part of NASA’s Education Payload Operations – Educator programme. The seeds were being carried by teacher-turned-astronaut Barbara Morgan, who was finally making her long-awaited journey into space after a 22-year wait.Morgan’s presence gave the educational mission an added significance. A former teacher who had spent years preparing for a flight that was repeatedly delayed, she was uniquely placed to connect the experience of spaceflight with students on Earth. During the mission, she hoped to conduct as many as three video sessions with students, bringi...