How does NASA grow plants in space?

The more humans go into space, the greater the need to obtain plants from the planet, whether for psychological or health reasons;

Several studies have recommended the importance of eating 5 servings of vegetables and fruits per day to maintain good health.

In the era of geographical discoveries, scurvy - caused by a lack of vitamin "C" - claimed the lives of many sailors on exploratory cruises that took a long time.

Today, NASA is looking for ways to provide adequate nutrients to astronauts on long-duration space missions by growing fresh fruits and vegetables on the International Space Station, but growing plants in a closed environment with zero gravity and no sunlight is not easy. .

Currently, astronauts aboard the International Space Station rely on packaged and freeze-dried meals to meet their nutritional needs.

But packaged meals can lose their vitamin content when stored for a long time, and this presents a challenge for astronauts who spend months or years on missions to probe the depths of space.

Growing crops on spacecraft and on other planets provides food for astronauts (NASA)

Fiji system

NASA has developed a system for producing vegetables aboard the International Space Station called "Veggie", which is a unit the size of a luggage bag that usually contains 6 different types of plants.

The seeds are fixed on small sticks using natural guar gum, and are placed inside bags called pillows, and each pillow includes a medium for plant growth of calcined clay and compost.

These cushions help distribute water, nutrients and air around the roots in appropriate and balanced quantities, so that they do not sink in water.

The units include LED lights that produce a colorful light suitable for growing plants.

NASA has successfully grown a variety of plants using the vegetable production system, such as lettuce, cabbage, mustard, Russian red kale and zinnia flowers.

The astronauts collect half of the fruits for consumption after sterilization, and freeze the other half, package it and send it to Earth for the necessary examinations.

So far, the results of the tests have proven that the samples grown on the International Space Station are free of contaminants, such as harmful microbes and bacteria, and that they are safe for human consumption.

Scientists at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida are conducting research to grow crops rich in antioxidants, such as berries and some types of grains, in space to give astronauts aboard the station the necessary protection from space radiation.

Seeds are placed in containers containing LED lights (NASA)

Developed plant habitats

Similar to the vegetable production system, Advanced Plant Habitat uses LED lights and incorporates a porous clay medium to release water, nutrients and oxygen to plant roots in balanced quantities.

But the difference between them is that these units are enclosed, and water is distributed in them, and pressure, humidity and temperature levels are automatically regulated using sensors and cameras inside.

The researchers hope that these units will contribute to understanding the relationship between zero gravity and lignin, which plays an important role in forming plant cell walls, especially in bark and wood.

Researchers are conducting studies on genetically modifying plants to reduce their lignin content in space so that they can withstand zero gravity, and plants that grow in space may gain additional benefits, including enhancing the absorption of nutrients from them and facilitating the decomposition of plant waste when converted into fertilizer.

The team is also conducting research on the effect of light quality on crop yield, nutritional value and taste both on Earth and in space.

Additional benefits

These units will not only provide astronauts with much-needed fresh vegetables and fruits for long-term space missions, but also improve their mental health.

Taking care of green plants and eating their fresh fruits may leave a positive impact on the soul and make it easier to survive in this harsh, closed environment full of pressure.

The Kennedy Center team hopes that Fiji will become an integral part of life aboard the International Space Station and human colonies on Mars.