{"id":70594,"date":"2023-10-18T15:05:09","date_gmt":"2023-10-18T19:05:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-469893"},"modified":"2024-06-12T13:07:19","modified_gmt":"2024-06-12T17:07:19","slug":"ways-the-international-space-station-helps-us-study-plant-growth-in-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/station\/ways-the-international-space-station-helps-us-study-plant-growth-in-space\/","title":{"rendered":"Station Science 101: Plant Research"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/image-article\/astronaut-kayla-barron-checks-out-plants-growing-inside-veggie-facility\/\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1041\" height=\"694\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss066e133016.jpg?w=1041\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Astronaut Kayla Barron checks out plants growing inside the Veggie facility\" style=\"transform: scale(1.1); transform-origin: 48% 93%; object-position: 48% 93%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss066e133016.jpg 1041w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss066e133016.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss066e133016.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss066e133016.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss066e133016.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss066e133016.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss066e133016.jpg?resize=900,600 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1041px) 100vw, 1041px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA astronaut Kayla Barron checks out plants growing inside the Veggie research facility for the Veggie PONDS experiment. <\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\"><strong><em>NASA<\/em><\/strong><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>As NASA plans long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars, a key challenge is figuring out how to feed crews during their weeks, months, and even years in space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Food for crews aboard the International Space Station is primarily prepackaged, requires regular resupply deliveries aboard cargo spacecraft, and degrades in quality and nutrition. But what if astronauts could grow some of their own food in microgravity? Researchers are exploring the idea by testing various crops and equipment to figure out how to do this without a lot of extra hardware or power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To date, NASA has grown a variety of plants, including lettuces, tomatoes, and radishes \u2013 and learned a lot about how to successfully do so in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Picking the Right Plants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The first step in this research is identifying which plants to test. NASA started a project in 2015 with the <a href=\"https:\/\/fairchildgarden.org\/gbe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Fairchild Botanical Garden<\/strong><\/a> in Miami called \u201cGrowing Beyond Earth.\u201d The program has recruited hundreds of middle and high school science classes across the U.S. to grow different seeds in a habitat similar to one on the space station. These student citizen scientists are helping NASA develop technologies for growing food crops for future long-duration missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Gardens in Space<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA also has tested facilities to host future microgravity gardens. One is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/station\/research-explorer\/facility\/?#id=374\"><strong>Vegetable Production System<\/strong><\/a>, or \u201cVeggie,\u201d a simple, low-power chamber that can hold six plants. Seeds are grown in small fabric \u201cpillows\u201d that crew members look after and water by hand, much like caring for a window garden on Earth. The <strong>Passive Orbital Nutrient Delivery System<\/strong>, or Veggie PONDS, works with the Veggie platform but replaces the seed pillows with a holder that contains a small reservoir of water for the plant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/atoms\/files\/advanced-plant-habitat.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Advanced Plant Habitat<\/strong><\/a> is a fully-automated facility designed to study growing plants in ways that require only minimal crew attention.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/iss066e147334-vande-hei-ponds-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/iss066e147334-vande-hei-ponds-1.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/iss066e147334-vande-hei-ponds-1.jpg 5568w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/iss066e147334-vande-hei-ponds-1.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/iss066e147334-vande-hei-ponds-1.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/iss066e147334-vande-hei-ponds-1.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/iss066e147334-vande-hei-ponds-1.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/iss066e147334-vande-hei-ponds-1.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/iss066e147334-vande-hei-ponds-1.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/iss066e147334-vande-hei-ponds-1.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/iss066e147334-vande-hei-ponds-1.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/iss066e147334-vande-hei-ponds-1.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/iss066e147334-vande-hei-ponds-1.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Mark Vande Hei harvests for the Veggie PONDS investigation. <\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\"><strong><em>NASA<\/em><\/strong><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Right Light and Food<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The type of light can affect plant size, nutritional content, microbial growth, and taste. Plants particularly rely on red and blue light to grow. Experiments aboard the space station showed that plants in space grow well under the same light conditions preferred by those on Earth. While green lights are not necessary for plant growth, they are included in plant growth systems so that the plants look like those grown on Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/image-article\/nasa-astronaut-jessica-meir-dines-fresh-mizuna-mustard-greens\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1041\" height=\"694\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss061e025829.jpg?w=1041\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"NASA astronaut Jessica Meir dines on fresh Mizuna mustard greens\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 30%; object-position: 50% 30%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss061e025829.jpg 1041w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss061e025829.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss061e025829.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss061e025829.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss061e025829.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss061e025829.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss061e025829.jpg?resize=900,600 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1041px) 100vw, 1041px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA astronaut Jessica Meir tastes fresh Mizuna mustard greens she harvested earlier that day.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\"><strong><em>NASA<\/em><\/strong><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Veg-04A, Veg-04B <\/strong>experiments grew Mizuna mustard, a leafy green crop, and <strong>Veg-05<\/strong> grew tomatoes.  The experiments grew the crops under different light conditions and compared plant yield, nutritional composition, and microbial levels to ones grown on Earth. Crew members also rated the flavor, texture, and other characteristics of the two mizuna experiments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Plant Habitat-04<\/strong> analyzed plant-microbe interactions and assessed the flavor and texture of chile peppers. Crew members ate peppers from the first crop, harvested on Oct. 29, 2021, and from the second harvest. Twelve peppers from the second harvest returned to Earth for analysis as well. This experiment demonstrated that research about space crop production is on the right path and researchers plan to apply lessons learned to testing other plants.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Sp-SYW-iss_astronauts_chile_peppers-medhires.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Sp-SYW-iss_astronauts_chile_peppers-medhires.png?w=1920\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"image of astronaut posing with floating chili peppers in the meal area of the space station\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 64%; object-position: 50% 64%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Sp-SYW-iss_astronauts_chile_peppers-medhires.png 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Sp-SYW-iss_astronauts_chile_peppers-medhires.png?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Sp-SYW-iss_astronauts_chile_peppers-medhires.png?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Sp-SYW-iss_astronauts_chile_peppers-medhires.png?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Sp-SYW-iss_astronauts_chile_peppers-medhires.png?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Sp-SYW-iss_astronauts_chile_peppers-medhires.png?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Sp-SYW-iss_astronauts_chile_peppers-medhires.png?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Sp-SYW-iss_astronauts_chile_peppers-medhires.png?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Sp-SYW-iss_astronauts_chile_peppers-medhires.png?resize=1200,800 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA astronauts Mark Vande Hei and Shane Kimbrough, JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, and NASA astronaut Megan McArthur with chile peppers grown for Plant Habitat-04.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\"><strong><em>NASA<\/em><\/strong><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The\u00a0Influence of Gravity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Gravity affects how plants grow and the yield of crops. An early experiment, <strong>PESTO<\/strong>, found that microgravity alters leaf development, plant cells, and the chloroplasts used in photosynthesis, but did not harm the plants overall. In fact, wheat plants grew 10% taller compared to those on Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/02_iss004e10128_sidebar.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1394\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/02_iss004e10128_sidebar.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"image of a close-up view of plants grown in experiment\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 49% 47%; object-position: 49% 47%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/02_iss004e10128_sidebar.jpg 3032w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/02_iss004e10128_sidebar.jpg?resize=300,204 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/02_iss004e10128_sidebar.jpg?resize=768,523 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/02_iss004e10128_sidebar.jpg?resize=1024,697 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/02_iss004e10128_sidebar.jpg?resize=1536,1046 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/02_iss004e10128_sidebar.jpg?resize=2048,1394 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/02_iss004e10128_sidebar.jpg?resize=400,272 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/02_iss004e10128_sidebar.jpg?resize=600,408 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/02_iss004e10128_sidebar.jpg?resize=900,613 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/02_iss004e10128_sidebar.jpg?resize=1200,817 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/02_iss004e10128_sidebar.jpg?resize=2000,1361 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">View of wheat plants grown on the space station for PESTO.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\"><strong><em>NASA<\/em><\/strong><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The <strong>Seedling Growth<\/strong> investigations showed that seedlings can acclimate to microgravity by modulating expression of some genes related to the stressors of space, a discovery that adds to knowledge about how microgravity affects plant physiology.<sup>[1]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One way that plants sense gravity is via changes to calcium within their cells. <strong>Plant Gravity Sensing<\/strong>, a JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) investigation, measured how microgravity affects calcium levels, which could help scientists design better ways to grow food in space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ADVASC<\/strong>, an investigation that grew two generations of mustard plants using the Advanced Astroculture chamber, showed that seeds were smaller but germination rates near normal in microgravity.<sup>[2]<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Water Delivery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One significant challenge for growing plants in microgravity is providing enough water to keep them healthy without drowning them in too much water. <strong>Plant Water Management <\/strong>demonstrated a hydroponic (water-based) method for providing water and air to plant roots. The <strong>XROOTS<\/strong> study tested using both hydroponic and aeroponic (air-based) techniques to grow plants rather than traditional soil. These techniques could enable large-scale crop production for future space exploration.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/10-iss067e149651-watkins-hines.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/10-iss067e149651-watkins-hines.jpg?w=1920\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Jessica Watkins and Bob Hines work on a botany investigation on board the International Space Station\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 22%; object-position: 50% 22%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/10-iss067e149651-watkins-hines.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/10-iss067e149651-watkins-hines.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/10-iss067e149651-watkins-hines.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/10-iss067e149651-watkins-hines.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/10-iss067e149651-watkins-hines.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/10-iss067e149651-watkins-hines.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/10-iss067e149651-watkins-hines.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/10-iss067e149651-watkins-hines.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/10-iss067e149651-watkins-hines.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Bob Hines work on the XROOTS investigation.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\"><strong><em>NASA<\/em><\/strong><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Transplanting Veggies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>During the VEG-03 investigation, which cultivated a variety of plants including Extra Dwarf Pak Choi, Outredgeous lettuce, and Dragoon lettuce, NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins noticed some of the plants were struggling. Hopkins conducted the first plant transplant in space, moving extra sprouts from thriving plant pillows into two of the struggling pillows in Veggie. The transplants survived and grew, opening new possibilities for future plant growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Plant Genetics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Plants exposed to spaceflight undergo changes that involve the addition of extra information to their DNA, affecting how genes turn on or off without changing the sequence of the DNA itself. This process is known as epigenetic change. <strong>Plant Habitat-03 <\/strong>assesses whether such adaptations in one generation of plants grown in space can transfer to the next generation.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/iss068e041971_leaf_harvest_dai29.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"985\" height=\"657\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/iss068e041971_leaf_harvest_dai29.jpeg?w=985\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Arabadopsis thaliana plants growing in the International Space Stations Advanced Plant Habitat for the Plant Habitat-03 investigation, which looks at whether plants grown in space can pass adaptations to their next generation.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 49% 76%; object-position: 49% 76%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/iss068e041971_leaf_harvest_dai29.jpeg 985w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/iss068e041971_leaf_harvest_dai29.jpeg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/iss068e041971_leaf_harvest_dai29.jpeg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/iss068e041971_leaf_harvest_dai29.jpeg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/iss068e041971_leaf_harvest_dai29.jpeg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/iss068e041971_leaf_harvest_dai29.jpeg?resize=900,600 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 985px) 100vw, 985px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Thale cress plants from the Plant Habitat-03 investigation just before a harvest.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\"><strong><em>NASA<\/em><\/strong><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The long-term goal is to understand how epigenetics contribute to adaptive strategies that plants use in space and, ultimately, develop plants better suited for providing food and other services on future missions. Results also could support the development of strategies for adapting crops and other economically important plants for growth in marginal and reclaimed habitats on Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Human Effect<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Gardens need tending, of course. The <strong>Veg-04A, Veg-04B<\/strong>, and <strong>Veg-05<\/strong> investigations also looked at how tending plants contributed to the well-being of astronauts. Many astronauts reported they found caring for plants an enjoyable and relaxing activity \u2013 another important contribution to future long-duration missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Astronauts report that the time spent gardening makes them excited to eat the fresh produce once it is ready. That encourages them to creatively use the produce as ingredients in their meals, increasing their quality of life in space and boosting their morale.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/03_iss064e027748_sidebar.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/03_iss064e027748_sidebar.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"image of astronauts collecting leaf samples from experiment\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 8% 100%; object-position: 8% 100%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/03_iss064e027748_sidebar.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/03_iss064e027748_sidebar.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/03_iss064e027748_sidebar.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/03_iss064e027748_sidebar.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/03_iss064e027748_sidebar.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/03_iss064e027748_sidebar.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/03_iss064e027748_sidebar.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/03_iss064e027748_sidebar.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/03_iss064e027748_sidebar.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/03_iss064e027748_sidebar.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA astronauts Shannon Walker and Michael Hopkins enjoy the scent of freshly harvested leaves from plants grown in space.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\"><em><strong>NASA<\/strong><\/em><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The Biological and Physical Sciences (<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/biological-physical\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BPS<\/a>) Division of NASA\u2019s Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington provides funding for Veggie, the APH, and related investigations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Search this database of scientific experiments to learn more about those mentioned above. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/station\/research-explorer\/\">Space Station Research Explorer<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-center nasa-button-link padding-y-1 padding-x-0 hds-module wp-block-nasa-blocks-related-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/nasa2explore\/albums\/72157709539678606\" target=\"_self\" class=\"button-primary button-primary-md link-external-true\" aria-label=\"Explore more pictures of plants aboard the space station here.\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t<span class=\"line-height-alt-1\">Explore more pictures of plants aboard the space station here.<\/span>\n\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"button-primary-circle\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Surprisingly STEM: Microgravity Plant Scientist\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NQ-KiXDi1G8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Citations:<\/em><em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><sup>1<\/sup> Medina F, Manzano A, Herranz R, Kiss JZ. Red Light Enhances Plant Adaptation to Spaceflight and Mars g-Levels. Life. 2022, 12(10), 1484; https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/life12101484<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><sup>2<\/sup> Link BM, Busse JS, Stankovic B. Seed-to-Seed-to-Seed Growth and Development of Arabidopsis in Microgravity. Astrobiology. 2014 October; 14(10): 866-875. DOI: 10.1089\/ast.2014.1184.PMID: 25317938<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More Topics<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/space-station-research-and-technology\/space-station-science-101\/space-station-science-101-biology-and-biotechnology\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Station Science 101: Biology and Biotechnology<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Radishes-in-the-APH.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Radishes-in-the-APH.jpg 6720w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Radishes-in-the-APH.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Radishes-in-the-APH.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Radishes-in-the-APH.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Radishes-in-the-APH.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Radishes-in-the-APH.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Radishes-in-the-APH.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Radishes-in-the-APH.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Radishes-in-the-APH.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Radishes-in-the-APH.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Radishes-in-the-APH.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/biological-physical\/stories\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Biological & Physical Science Stories<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/iss_06302022.png\" ><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/space-station-research-and-technology\/benefits-for-humanity\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Station Benefits for Humanity<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/benefits-cover-cupola-for-web-mod.png?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/benefits-cover-cupola-for-web-mod.png 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/benefits-cover-cupola-for-web-mod.png?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/benefits-cover-cupola-for-web-mod.png?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/benefits-cover-cupola-for-web-mod.png?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/benefits-cover-cupola-for-web-mod.png?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/benefits-cover-cupola-for-web-mod.png?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/benefits-cover-cupola-for-web-mod.png?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/benefits-cover-cupola-for-web-mod.png?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/benefits-cover-cupola-for-web-mod.png?resize=1200,675 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/space-station-research-and-technology\/latest-news-from-space-station-research\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Latest News from Space Station Research<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/edu_iss066e135704_orig.jpg?w=1024\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/edu_iss066e135704_orig.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/edu_iss066e135704_orig.jpg?resize=200,300 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/edu_iss066e135704_orig.jpg?resize=768,1152 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/edu_iss066e135704_orig.jpg?resize=683,1024 683w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/edu_iss066e135704_orig.jpg?resize=1024,1536 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/edu_iss066e135704_orig.jpg?resize=267,400 267w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/edu_iss066e135704_orig.jpg?resize=400,600 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/edu_iss066e135704_orig.jpg?resize=600,900 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/edu_iss066e135704_orig.jpg?resize=800,1200 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As NASA plans long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars, a key challenge is figuring out how to feed crews during their weeks, months, and even years in space. Food for crews aboard the International Space Station is primarily prepackaged, requires regular resupply deliveries aboard cargo spacecraft, and degrades in quality and nutrition. But what if astronauts [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":220832,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2735,8370,11285,2861],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[8610],"coauthors":[12410],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Station Science 101: Plant Research","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/station\/ways-the-international-space-station-helps-us-study-plant-growth-in-space\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/station\/ways-the-international-space-station-helps-us-study-plant-growth-in-space\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e027748.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e027748.jpg"},"articleSection":"Missions","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Space Station Research Integration Office"}],"creator":["Space Station Research Integration Office"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA Centers & Facilities","Johnson Space Center","International Space Station (ISS)","Expedition 64","ISS Research"],"dateCreated":"2023-10-18T19:05:09Z","datePublished":"2023-10-18T19:05:09Z","dateModified":"2024-06-12T17:07:19Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"Station Science 101: Plant Research\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/station\/ways-the-international-space-station-helps-us-study-plant-growth-in-space\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e027748.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2023-10-18T19:05:09Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"Missions\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities,Johnson Space Center,International Space Station (ISS),Expedition 64,ISS Research\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Space Station Research Integration Office\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":6,"time_ago":"8 months","featured_image":{"id":220832,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e027748.jpg","title":"Astronauts Shannon Walker and Michael Hopkins collect leaf samples","alt":"Astronauts Shannon Walker and Michael Hopkins collect leaf samples","caption":"NASA astronauts Shannon Walker and Michael Hopkins collect leaf samples from plants growing inside the European Columbus laboratory."},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70594"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/64"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=70594"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70594\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":671724,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70594\/revisions\/671724"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/220832"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70594"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70594"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=70594"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=70594"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=70594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}