The shuttle will carry several dozen plants that are genetically engineered to change color in response to lack of air movement and other conditions in orbit. The resulting data will help researchers better understand why plants tend to grow poorly during space travel.

Plant growth in orbit is an important issue because future space missions are expected to make increasing use of plants as a source of food and oxygen. In addition, such research may lead to improved agricultural techniques on Earth.

The project focuses on Arabidopsis thaliana, a small weed with white flowers. The plants have been modified through the insertion of genes from bacteria. The project's official name is the Transgenic Arabidopsis Gene Expression System.