EPISODE 1: MUSHROOMS ON MARS
SPACE SALADS AND COSMIC PIZZAS
A variety of crops have been successfully grown on the International Space Station (ISS) as part of NASA’s efforts to understand how plants behave in microgravity and to prepare for long-duration space missions. These experiments are crucial for developing sustainable life support systems for future missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Here’s a list of some of the crops that have been grown in space:
1. Lettuce
- Red Romaine Lettuce (Lactuca sativa): One of the most well-known crops grown on the ISS, red romaine lettuce was part of NASA's Veggie experiment. Astronauts grew it in the Veggie Plant Growth System, and it was also the first crop eaten by astronauts in space in 2015 after passing safety tests.
2. Radishes
- Radishes (Raphanus sativus) are a fast-growing crop and were chosen because of their short growth cycle. NASA grew radishes as part of the Plant Habitat-02 experiment to study how edible plants develop in space and how microgravity affects plant growth.
3. Zinnias
- Zinnias (Zinnia elegans) were grown not only for their beauty but also as a model to study how plants flower in space. Growing flowers like zinnias helps researchers understand how other fruiting crops, like tomatoes, might grow in space.
4. Wheat
- Wheat has been grown in space as part of several plant biology experiments. It’s an important crop for future long-term missions because it can be used to produce food and oxygen through photosynthesis.
5. Mustard Greens
- Mustard greens (Brassica juncea) were grown as part of the Veggie experiment on the ISS. They are a leafy green vegetable that is both nutritious and easy to grow, making them a good candidate for space agriculture.
6. Tomatoes
- Cherry tomatoes have been part of NASA’s plant growth experiments, particularly as part of the Veggie and Advanced Plant Habitat experiments. Tomatoes are more complex than leafy greens, making them an important test crop for studying fruiting plants in microgravity.
7. Arabidopsis
- Arabidopsis thaliana, a small flowering plant often used in plant biology experiments due to its well-known genetic profile, has been extensively grown on the ISS. Though not an edible crop, Arabidopsis is crucial for studying how plants adapt to the space environment.
8. Peppers
- In 2021, NASA grew Capsicum annuum(a type of chili pepper) on the ISS as part of the Plant Habitat-04 experiment. Peppers were chosen because they are rich in vitamins and require longer growth periods, making them a valuable crop for future missions.
9. Barley
- Barley has been grown on the ISS as part of research into brewing beer in space. While it’s not grown for food consumption yet, it highlights the potential for using grains in space for other purposes.
10. Rice
- Rice has been grown on the ISS to study how staple crops might fare in a space environment. Understanding how to grow rice in space could be essential for future long-duration missions, as rice is a major food source worldwide.
11. Cabbage
- Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa), a type of leafy vegetable, has also been grown on the ISS. Like lettuce and mustard greens, cabbage is fast-growing and nutrient-rich, making it an ideal crop for space agriculture.
12. Sunflowers
- Sunflowers have been grown in space primarily for scientific research into how plants grow and flower in microgravity. They aren’t grown as food crops but provide valuable information on plant development in space.
13. Potatoes
- While potatoes have not yet been fully grown in space, experiments are underway to explore how to grow them on future space missions. Potatoes are nutrient-dense and could provide astronauts with a significant calorie source on long missions.
14. Mizuna (Japanese mustard greens)
- Mizuna has been grown in several space-based plant experiments due to its quick growth and nutrient content. Like mustard greens, it’s considered a good candidate for space food.
15. Onions
- Onions are another crop that has been tested in space. They are easy to grow and can be used to add flavor to food, which could improve the psychological well-being of astronauts on long missions.
Plant Growth Systems on the ISS:
NASA uses specialized systems to grow plants on the ISS, such as:
- Veggie Plant Growth System: This is an open-air plant chamber with LED lighting where crops like lettuce, radishes, and flowers are grown.
- Advanced Plant Habitat (APH): A larger, fully automated system with precise environmental controls to study plant growth in microgravity, used for growing more complex plants like peppers and wheat.
- Bioculture System: Another system used for plant biology experiments in space.
Why Growing Plants in Space is Important:
1. Sustainability for Long-Duration Missions: Growing food on the ISS helps reduce the need for resupply missions and provides astronauts with fresh food, which can improve their overall health and well-being.
2. Closed-Loop Life Support Systems: Plants can recycle carbon dioxide into oxygen, contributing to life support systems in space.
3. Food Variety and Psychological Benefits: Fresh food provides variety in astronauts' diets, which is important for maintaining morale and psychological well-being during long-term missions.
4. Research for Future Colonies: The experiments conducted on the ISS are laying the groundwork for growing food on the Moon, Mars, and other planetary bodies, where resupply missions from Earth will be costly and infrequent.
The success of growing crops like lettuce, peppers, radishes, and wheat on the ISS is helping scientists better understand how to sustain human life in space. With these advancements, the dream of long-duration space missions, lunar bases, and even Martian colonies becomes more feasible, all thanks to space agriculture.