NASA's "Hydroponics in Space" Program: Growing Plants Beyond Earth
In recent years, NASA has launched the "Water Plants in Space" program, engaging researchers both in space and on Earth to study the best ways to grow plants aboard the International Space Station.
To date, NASA has successfully grown a variety of plants, including lettuce, mustard varieties, and radishes, learning a great deal about how to make this process work. They primarily use hydroponics, a soil-free technique. "This method doesn't use soil, so we need to supply the plants with essential minerals, nutrients, and proper aeration to ensure they germinate and grow correctly," explains an astronaut in a publication. "We use the capillary action, which works even better in zero gravity than on Earth."
Challenges and Solutions in Space Farming
What Plants to Take?
Choosing the right plants to bring into space is crucial. How do seeds age in space? How can we provide the necessary light? Astronaut Thomas Pesquet, in addition to occupying his free time, may help solve some of the significant challenges NASA teams are still facing.
Controlled Environment Farming
The interior of the Kennedy Space Center's biomass production chamber mimics the closed growing environment that astronauts will use in space or on other planets to cultivate new crops. As the first controlled environment vertical farm in the United States, the chamber has helped NASA provide critical data for the indoor agriculture industry. NASA scientists Bill Knott and Tom Dreschel examine crop growth in this innovative setting. Credits: NASA
Innovative Hydroponic Systems
Currently, the astronaut has revealed photos of the system he will use to grow plants, though the specific varieties remain undisclosed. However, we do know that students from the "Eklo" project will be sending him their marigold seeds. "It's a beautiful multi-tiered pot, and at the bottom, there’s a rotating ring. Each time Thomas turns it, he retrieves a box. Inside the box, there are flower scents he can smell and enjoy whenever he wants, accompanied by messages from his family," explains Eve Teyssier, the project's originator.
