NASA

Once the seeds return to Earth, scientists will examine their appearance, extract DNA to study genetic changes and test their physiology.

The satellite blasted off from India on Wednesday. Scientists say the $1.3 billion mission will help forecasters and first responders stay one step ahead of floods, landslides and other disasters.

The employees who have chosen to leave the agency amount to about 20% of NASA's workforce.

The crew of four will spend two weeks at the orbiting lab, performing dozens of experiments, after launching Wednesday on a SpaceX private flight from the Kennedy Space Center.

It's the fourth mission to the International Space Station for Axiom Space. The Houston company works with SpaceX for rides to the station and coordinates with NASA to use the ISS for its astronauts.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has supported moving NASA’s headquarters from Washington, D.C. to Florida, with backers saying it would put leaders closer to the agency’s operations.

Pending confirmation by the Senate, space policy expert and educator Greg Autry will play an influential role in shaping the financials and future of the federal agency.

NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were on the International Space Station more than nine months, despite launching into space in June for what was expected to be an eight-day mission.

Florida’s two Republican senators — Sen. Rick Scott and Ashley Moody — want Congress to relocate the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Florida’s Space Coast in Brevard County.

The decision came down with less than an hour remaining in the countdown. Officials say the launch is off until at least Friday.

Florida has a large number of federal government workers. There are concentrations in regions with military bases and space operations. They are predominately represented by Republicans in Congress.

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams will return home on SpaceX soon after their replacements arrive at the space station next week.