iss061e113407

ss061e113407 (1/2/2020) —- A view of the Germination of ABI Voyager Barley Seeds in Microgravity CubeLab aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The Malting ABI Voyager Barley Seeds in Microgravity investigation implements a microscale malting procedure in a spaceflight environment. The payload automates the steeping, germination, and kilning processes associated with malting barley. The barley seeds arrive aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in a dry state to begin the malting process. During the steeping process, the seeds are soaked in water so that the moisture content of the barley increases. During the germination phase, the steeping water is removed and the seeds are surrounded by air. Once the seeds show early signs of germination, the system initiates the kilning process which uses heat to dry the seeds and prepare the resultant malt for stowage until return. The malt is examined upon return and compared to a control on the ground.