ISS astroculture. Brassica plants growing in an experiment rack onboard the International Space Station (ISS). Brassica plants are vegetables such as turnips, broccoli and cabbages. The experiment is part of the Biomass Production System that was installed in the Destiny module of the ISS from April 2002, and returned in June 2002. The experiment looked at the effects of microgravity on photosynthesis, as well as general plant metabolism. The growth and development of the plants was carefully controlled by systems tended by the astronauts and monitored from Earth. The plants were successfully grown and harvested. The ISS orbits Earth at an altitude of 350 kilometres.