Making Space Media

ASOP-0003 Version 2

Table of Contents

1.0: Purpose

The purpose of this SOP is to provide instructions on how to make a specific type of agar gel referred to as “space media”.  Agar is used frequently in laboratory settings, especially for cell culture and plating petri dishes.  Space media’s surface is sticky, easily retains moisture, and has sucrose and other nutrients in it: everything a plant needs for a short period of time.  Since space media is used to sow seeds that will eventually go to space, the consistency of the gel is tougher than traditional media.  This is to better resist the rapid acceleration of a rocket launch. 

2.0: Safety

Standard laboratory personal protective equipment (PPE) should be worn when executing this technique.  Refer to Material Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for hazards and appropriate handling precautions. 

3.0: Definitions and Acronyms

  • ASOP: Astrobotany Standard Operating Procedure
  • Agar: a jelly like substance used as a solid substrate
  • LS Salts: Linsmaier-Skoog Salts – a media that contains macronutrients, micronutrients and vitamins.
  • DI Water: Deionized Water

4.0: Materials

Equivalent Materials may be used. 

5.0: Equipment

  • Autoclave
  • Stir plate/stir bar
  • Cold storage (2-8C)

6.0: Procedure

  1. Measure out 3 g of sucrose and 2.36 g LS salts into a container of 1 L of DI water.  Stir with a stir bar until solution is homogenous. 
  2. Measure 5 g of Phytagel and put it into an empty glass bottle.  Pour 500 mL of the solution from step 1 above into that bottle. 
  3. Repeat step 2 with another bottle.  
  4. Mix both bottles well, and then autoclave both bottles for 30 minutes. 
  5. Let the solution rest/cool for another 15 minutes after. 
  6. Pour out approximately 35 mL of the solution into each sterile petri dish.  Repeat until out of materials.  Exercise caution when pouring: the bottle and the solution will be hot.  Be mindful of zones of contamination.  
  7. Let the plates set for 20 minutes, and then tap the side of each plate to confirm it’s set.  
  8. Place the lids back onto the plates and then carefully store at 2-8C in a sterile bag. 
  9. The plates are now ready- proceed to ASOP-0008: Sowing Tiny Seeds on Media for instructions on sowing seeds onto the space media.

7.0: References

The instructions for this gel agar are attributed to the Gilroy Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

Version History

  • Version 2 | Description: Hyperlinks added.  References to ASOP-0008 added. | Effective: 01Aug2023
  • Version 1 | Description: ASOP-0003 page created. | Effective: 16Jun2023
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