{"id":61931,"date":"2019-04-09T18:08:25","date_gmt":"2019-04-09T22:08:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-443228"},"modified":"2023-12-08T15:55:03","modified_gmt":"2023-12-08T20:55:03","slug":"growing-plants-in-space","status":"publish","type":"topic","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/exploration-research-and-technology\/growing-plants-in-space\/","title":{"rendered":"Growing Plants in Space"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Growing Plants in Space<\/h2>\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\/2019\/04\/ksc-20181119-ph-csh01-0001-0.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1352\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20181119-ph-csh01-0001-0.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"NASA's Matt Romeyn works in the Crop Food Production Research Area of the Space Station Processing Facility at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.\" 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\/2019\/04\/ksc-20181119-ph-csh01-0001-0.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20181119-ph-csh01-0001-0.jpg?resize=300,198 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20181119-ph-csh01-0001-0.jpg?resize=768,507 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20181119-ph-csh01-0001-0.jpg?resize=1024,676 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20181119-ph-csh01-0001-0.jpg?resize=1536,1014 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20181119-ph-csh01-0001-0.jpg?resize=400,264 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20181119-ph-csh01-0001-0.jpg?resize=600,396 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20181119-ph-csh01-0001-0.jpg?resize=900,594 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20181119-ph-csh01-0001-0.jpg?resize=1200,792 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20181119-ph-csh01-0001-0.jpg?resize=2000,1320 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA’s Matt Romeyn works in the Crop Food Production Research Area of the Space Station Processing Facility at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/Cory Huston<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>As humans explore space, we will want to bring plants for both aesthetic and practical reasons. We already know from our pioneering astronauts that fresh flowers and gardens on the International Space Station create a beautiful atmosphere and let us take a little piece of Earth with us on our journeys. They\u2019re good for our psychological well-being on Earth and in space. They also will be critical for keeping astronauts healthy on long-duration missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A lack of vitamin C was all it took to give sailors scurvy, and vitamin deficiencies can cause a number of other health problems. Simply packing some multi-vitamins will not be enough to keep astronauts healthy as they explore deep space. They will need fresh produce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Right now on the space station, astronauts receive regular shipments of a wide variety of freeze-dried and prepackaged meals to cover their dietary needs \u2013 resupply missions keep them freshly stocked. When crews venture further into space, traveling for months or years without resupply shipments, the vitamins in prepackaged form break down over time, which presents a problem for astronaut health.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA is looking at ways to provide astronauts with nutrients in a long-lasting, easily absorbed form\u2014freshly grown fresh fruits and vegetables. The challenge is how to do that in a closed environment without sunlight or Earth\u2019s gravity.<\/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\/2019\/04\/scott-kelly-zinnia-bouquet.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1066\" height=\"1066\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/scott-kelly-zinnia-bouquet.jpg?w=1066\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"A bouquet of flowers is photographed inside the International Space Station against the backdrop of Earth.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 41%; object-position: 50% 41%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/scott-kelly-zinnia-bouquet.jpg 1066w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/scott-kelly-zinnia-bouquet.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/scott-kelly-zinnia-bouquet.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/scott-kelly-zinnia-bouquet.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/scott-kelly-zinnia-bouquet.jpg?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/scott-kelly-zinnia-bouquet.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/scott-kelly-zinnia-bouquet.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/scott-kelly-zinnia-bouquet.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/scott-kelly-zinnia-bouquet.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/scott-kelly-zinnia-bouquet.jpg?resize=600,600 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/scott-kelly-zinnia-bouquet.jpg?resize=900,900 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1066px) 100vw, 1066px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Astronaut Scott Kelly nursed dying space zinnias back to health on the International Space Station. He photographed a bouquet of the flowers in the space station’s cupola against the backdrop of Earth and shared the photo to his Instagram for Valentine’s Day 2016.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/Scott Kelly<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Veggie<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The Vegetable Production System, known as Veggie, is a space garden residing on the space station. Veggie\u2019s purpose is to help NASA study plant growth in microgravity, while adding fresh food to the astronauts\u2019 diet and enhancing happiness and well-being on the orbiting laboratory. The Veggie garden is about the size of a carry-on piece of luggage and typically holds six plants. Each plant grows in a \u201cpillow\u201d filled with a clay-based growth media and fertilizer. The pillows are important to help distribute water, nutrients and air in a healthy balance around the roots. Otherwise, the roots would either drown in water or be engulfed by air because of the way fluids in space tend to form bubbles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the absence of gravity, plants use other environmental factors, such as light, to orient and guide growth. A bank of light emitting diodes (LEDs) above the plants produces a spectrum of light suited for the plants\u2019 growth. Since plants reflect a lot of green light and use more red and blue wavelengths, the Veggie chamber typically glows magenta pink.<\/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\/2019\/04\/ksc-20160211-ph-sww0001-0093.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20160211-ph-sww0001-0093.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"A photo of Zinnia plants from the Veggie ground control system at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 52% 61%; object-position: 52% 61%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20160211-ph-sww0001-0093.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20160211-ph-sww0001-0093.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20160211-ph-sww0001-0093.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20160211-ph-sww0001-0093.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20160211-ph-sww0001-0093.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20160211-ph-sww0001-0093.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20160211-ph-sww0001-0093.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20160211-ph-sww0001-0093.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20160211-ph-sww0001-0093.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20160211-ph-sww0001-0093.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\">Zinnia plants from the Veggie ground control system are being harvested in the Flight Equipment Development Laboratory in the Space Station Processing Facility at Kennedy. A similar zinnia harvest was conducted by astronaut Scott Kelly on the International Space Station.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/Bill White<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>To date, Veggie has successfully grown a variety of plants, including three types of lettuce, Chinese cabbage, mizuna mustard, red Russian kale and zinnia flowers. The flowers were especially popular with astronaut Scott Kelly, who picked a bouquet and photographed it floating in the cupola against the backdrop of Earth. Some of the plants were harvested and eaten by the crew members, with remaining samples returned to Earth to be analyzed. One concern was harmful microbes growing on the produce. So far, no harmful contamination has been detected, and the food has been safe (and enjoyable) for the crew to eat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our team at Kennedy Space Center envisions planting more produce in the future, such as tomatoes and peppers. Foods like berries, certain beans and other antioxidant-rich foods would have the added benefit of providing some space radiation protection for crew members who eat them.<\/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\/2019\/04\/astronaut-serena-harvest-iss.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/astronaut-serena-harvest-iss.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Astronaut Serena Au\u00f1\u00f3n-Chancellor harvests red Russian kale and dragoon lettuce on the International Space Station.\" 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\/2019\/04\/astronaut-serena-harvest-iss.jpg 5568w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/astronaut-serena-harvest-iss.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/astronaut-serena-harvest-iss.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/astronaut-serena-harvest-iss.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/astronaut-serena-harvest-iss.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/astronaut-serena-harvest-iss.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/astronaut-serena-harvest-iss.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/astronaut-serena-harvest-iss.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/astronaut-serena-harvest-iss.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/astronaut-serena-harvest-iss.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/astronaut-serena-harvest-iss.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\">Astronaut Serena Au\u00f1\u00f3n-Chancellor harvests red Russian kale and dragoon lettuce from Veggie on Nov. 28, 2018, just in time for Thanksgiving. The crew got to enjoy a mid-afternoon snack with balsamic vinegar, and Au\u00f1\u00f3n-Chancellor reported the lettuce was “delicious!”<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">ESA\/Alexander Gerst<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"width-full maxw-full bg-carbon-05 padding-bottom-9 padding-top-9 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-featured-link\">\n\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block padding-x-0 padding-top-9 desktop:padding-top-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 padding-x-3 desktop:padding-right-5 margin-bottom-5\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label margin-bottom-2\">NASA fact sheet<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"page-heading-md\">Veggie<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-md\">As humans expand space exploration farther from Earth, the ability to grow a supplemental food crop is a solution to the challenge of long-duration missions into deep space. Access our Veggie fact sheet below to learn more.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/press-release\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"button-primary button-primary-md\" aria-label=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"line-height-alt-1\">Learn More<\/span>\n\t\t\t\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\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-left-5\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"width-full\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Veggie-Chamber-2.jpg?w=1024\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"Water and nutrients are being added to plants in the Veggie hardware in NASA Kennedy Space Center's ISS environment simulator chamber.\" 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\/Veggie-Chamber-2.jpg 5760w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Veggie-Chamber-2.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Veggie-Chamber-2.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Veggie-Chamber-2.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Veggie-Chamber-2.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Veggie-Chamber-2.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Veggie-Chamber-2.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Veggie-Chamber-2.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Veggie-Chamber-2.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Veggie-Chamber-2.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Veggie-Chamber-2.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Water and nutrients are being added to plants in the Veggie hardware in NASA Kennedy Space Center’s ISS environment simulator chamber. Mizuna mustard, Outredgeous lettuce and Waldmann’s green lettuce are growing in Veggie. Growth in the chamber mimics the growth of plant experiments in the Veggie plant growth system on the International Space Station.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/Cory Huston<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Advanced Plant Habitat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The Advanced Plant Habitat (APH), like Veggie, is a growth chamber on station for plant research. It uses LED lights and a porous clay substrate with controlled release fertilizer to deliver water, nutrients and oxygen to the plant roots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But unlike Veggie, it is enclosed and automated with cameras and more than 180 sensors that are in constant interactive contact with a team on the ground at Kennedy, so it doesn\u2019t need much day-to-day care from the crew. Its water recovery and distribution, atmosphere content, moisture levels and temperature are all automated. It has more colors of LED lights than Veggie, with red, green, and blue lights, but also white, far red and even infrared to allow for nighttime imaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When a harvest is ready for research studies, the crew collects samples from the plants, freezes or chemically fixes them to preserve them, and sends them back down to Earth to be studied so scientists can better understand how space affected their growth and development.<\/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\/2019\/04\/ksc-20170824-ph-lch01-0065.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20170824-ph-lch01-0065.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"A man opens the door to the growth chamber of the Advanced Plant Habitat Flight Unit No. 1 for a test harvest of half of the Arabidopsis thaliana plants growing within.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 49% 73%; object-position: 49% 73%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20170824-ph-lch01-0065.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20170824-ph-lch01-0065.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20170824-ph-lch01-0065.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20170824-ph-lch01-0065.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20170824-ph-lch01-0065.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20170824-ph-lch01-0065.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20170824-ph-lch01-0065.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20170824-ph-lch01-0065.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20170824-ph-lch01-0065.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20170824-ph-lch01-0065.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\">John “JC” Carver, a payload integration engineer with Kennedy’s Test and Operations Support Contract, opens the door to the growth chamber of the Advanced Plant Habitat Flight Unit No. 1 for a test harvest of half of the Arabidopsis thaliana plants growing within.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA\/Leif Heimbold<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>APH had its first test run on the space station in Spring 2018 using <em>Arabidopsis thaliana<\/em> (the \u201cwhite mouse of the plant research world\u201d) and dwarf wheat. The time-lapse video of this was a popular social media release from the space station worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Norman Lewis is the principal investigator for the <em>Arabidopsis<\/em> Gravitational Response Omics (<em>Arabidopsis<\/em>-GRO) consortium study, which will be the first study using APH. He and his collaborators are especially interested in what happens to plants in space at the gene, protein and metabolite level, and what changes occur and why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A key question they want to answer is the relationship between microgravity and plant lignin content. Lignins in plants have functions whose closest analogy is that of bones in humans. They give structure and rigidity to plants and the means to stand upright against gravity. We already know space causes bone and muscle loss in humans because the physical demands are lower in space. So what about lignins?<\/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\/2019\/04\/ksc-20180312-ph-nas01-0001.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20180312-ph-nas01-0001.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"A photo of Arabidopsis seeds - small flowering plants related to cabbage and mustard - grown in the Advanced Plant Habitat aboard the International Space Station.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20180312-ph-nas01-0001.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20180312-ph-nas01-0001.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20180312-ph-nas01-0001.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20180312-ph-nas01-0001.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20180312-ph-nas01-0001.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20180312-ph-nas01-0001.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20180312-ph-nas01-0001.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20180312-ph-nas01-0001.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20180312-ph-nas01-0001.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ksc-20180312-ph-nas01-0001.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\">The first growth test of crops in the Advanced Plant Habitat aboard the International Space Station yielded great results. Arabidopsis seeds – small flowering plants related to cabbage and mustard – grew for about six weeks, and dwarf wheat for five weeks.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Lewis and his team also want to know if plants genetically engineered to have less lignin can survive and function normally in space. This could give space-grown plants several advantages, including being better for nutrient absorption when humans eat them and in making plant waste easier for composting. Lewis and his team believe this fundamental science information will guide our strategies for deep space exploration and colonization. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lewis knows space science has come a long way already \u2014 and that the possibilities on the horizon were previously the world of fiction!<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"width-full maxw-full bg-carbon-05 hds-cover-wrapper minh-tablet-lg hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-callout\">\n\t<div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper padding-bottom-9 padding-top-9 display-flex\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container grid-container-block margin-top-auto width-full maxw-desktop-lg padding-top-9 padding-x-3 z-400\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container grid-container-block margin-top-auto width-full maxw-desktop-lg padding-y-9 padding-x-3 z-400\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 z-400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"page-heading-md font-weight-extrabold line-height-heading-1 color-spacesuit-white-important\">Plant Habitat-04<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-lg margin-top-2 padding-0 margin-bottom-4 color-spacesuit-white-important\">NASA's Plant Habitat-04 (PH-04) experiment cultivated chile peppers aboard the International Space Station for the first time.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/location\/goddard-space-flight-center\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"button-primary  link-external-false\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"line-height-alt-1 color-spacesuit-white-important\" >\n\t\t\t\tLearn More                                    <span class=\"usa-sr-only\"> about Plant Habitat-04<\/span>\n                \t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\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\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 z-400\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-left mobile-skrim-top z-200\"><\/div>\n\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><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% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; 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\" \/><\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Biological Research in Canisters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The Biological Research in Canisters (BRIC) is a facility used to study the effects of space on organisms small enough to grow in petri dishes, such as yeast and microbes. BRIC-LED is the latest version, which added light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to support biology such as plants, mosses, algae and cyanobacteria that need light to make their food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Right now, BRIC-LED is undergoing hardware validation tests. Scientists want to ensure the LEDs don\u2019t get too hot for the plants and do other system checks. Soon, researchers such as Dr. Simon Gilroy of the University of Wisconsin-Madison will use it to conduct studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gilroy is interested in how the <em>Arabidopsis <\/em>plant\u2019s gene expression changes in space. \u201cThere are literally thousands of experiments done on Earth [on <em>Arabidopsis<\/em>],\u201d Gilroy explains. \u201cCold shock. Touched them. Not watered them. Too much water. Shouted at them,\u201d he says with a chuckle. \u201cThose databases are all available to us. So we look and see if there are any patterns anyone has found and what on the ground mimics what happens in space.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some patterns that arise are expected, like when the genes associated with gravity become altered. But two patterns that have caught Gilroy\u2019s attention have to do with the plants\u2019 immune system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The plants seem to have increased stress from oxidation. Normal chemistry in the cells makes a very reactive oxygen-based chemical. Uncontrolled, this \u201creactive oxygen species\u201d can react with the machinery that repairs DNA and mess that up, or it can damage mitochondria. In a healthy plant, the cells have ways of dealing with it. But in space, plants are making more of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The other pattern is certain genes associated with the immune system turn on and others switch off in space. Scientists suspect this may compromise that plants\u2019 ability to fight off infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is anecdotal evidence, too, that plants in space may be struggling to fend off pathogens. Once, the zinnias in Veggie got a little overwatered, and there was a lack of air flow. A fungus started growing on the plants, and some died. Astronaut Scott Kelly delicately cleaned off the fungus, nursed the surviving plants back to health and got them to flower. It could have been a fluke, but it raised the question if space was weakening the zinnia\u2019s health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rather than intentionally making Veggie plants sick to test this theory, scientists want to run gene expression studies using BRIC-LED and <em>trick<\/em> plants into thinking they\u2019re being threatened. They do this by manipulating protein receptors on the plants, which are constantly on the lookout for signs of bacteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bacteria use a whip-like structure called a flagellum to help them swim, and flagella all share a common set of 22 amino acids nicknamed \u201cflag-22.\u201d Plants are looking for flag-22, and their defense systems kick on as soon as they pick up on it. Scientists can squirt a harmless solution of flag-22 onto the plants. \u201cThe plant freaks out and thinks it\u2019s being attacked,\u201d Gilroy explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the BRIC-LED experiment, tiny plants are grown for 10 days, and then scientists squirt them with flag-22. An hour later, the plants are fully defending themselves, and scientists douse them with a chemical fixative to stop all biological processes. This fixative does a great job of preserving the plants\u2019 response state, but as an added step, the plants are put into a deep freeze. The plants are later sent back down to Earth and ground up to have their RNA extracted and analyzed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gilroy hopes to learn more about the effects of space on a plant\u2019s health this way. \u201cThe patterns will tell us whether the plant defense system is operating correctly or not,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Research like this will help NASA understand how to keep plants flourishing in space and better enable long-duration missions.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-featured-link-list bg-spacesuit-white padding-x-2 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-4 padding-y-5 desktop:padding-y-6 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-featured-link-list\">\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-22\">\n\t\t\t\tHelpful Resources\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row padding-y-2 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-30-important\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row featured-link-list-row width-full flex-align-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 tablet:padding-right-3 desktop:padding-right-5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"width-full\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full ratio-1x1 radius-pill overflow-hidden\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss066e133016.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Astronaut Kayla Barron checks out plants growing inside the Veggie facility\" style=\"transform: scale(1.1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss066e133016.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss066e133016.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss066e133016.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss066e133016.jpg?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-8 desktop:grid-col-10 padding-left-3 desktop:padding-left-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 margin-0\">Station Science 101: Plant Research<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-md margin-0 color-carbon-black\">Learn more about how NASA researches plant growth in space.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 display-flex flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/station\/ways-the-international-space-station-helps-us-study-plant-growth-in-space\/\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\">\n                            <svg class=\"hds-featured-link-list-button margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\">\n                                <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>\n                            <\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row padding-y-2 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-30-important\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row featured-link-list-row width-full flex-align-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 tablet:padding-right-3 desktop:padding-right-5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"width-full\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper width-full ratio-1x1 radius-pill overflow-hidden\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/plant-research-2023-guide-cover.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"image of an astronaut observing chile pepper plants growing in a plant habitat in the space station\" 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\/2016\/06\/plant-research-2023-guide-cover.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/plant-research-2023-guide-cover.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/plant-research-2023-guide-cover.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/plant-research-2023-guide-cover.jpg?resize=200,200 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-8 desktop:grid-col-10 padding-left-3 desktop:padding-left-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 margin-0\">A Researcher's Guide to: Plant Science<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-md margin-0 color-carbon-black\">Learn more about the space station's research facilities, as well as previous plant research efforts in space and lessons learned along the way.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-2 desktop:grid-col-1 display-flex flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/science-research\/for-researchers\/a-researchers-guide-to-plant-science\/\" target=\"\" aria-label=\"\">\n                            <svg class=\"hds-featured-link-list-button margin-left-auto margin-right-0\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\">\n                                <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>\n                            <\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\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 From NASA<\/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\/\" 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>International Space Station<\/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=\"853\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/International-Space-Station-in-2021.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\/International-Space-Station-in-2021.jpg 4343w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/International-Space-Station-in-2021.jpg?resize=300,167 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/International-Space-Station-in-2021.jpg?resize=768,427 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/International-Space-Station-in-2021.jpg?resize=1024,569 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/International-Space-Station-in-2021.jpg?resize=1536,853 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/International-Space-Station-in-2021.jpg?resize=2048,1137 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/International-Space-Station-in-2021.jpg?resize=400,222 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/International-Space-Station-in-2021.jpg?resize=600,333 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/International-Space-Station-in-2021.jpg?resize=900,500 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/International-Space-Station-in-2021.jpg?resize=1200,666 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/International-Space-Station-in-2021.jpg?resize=2000,1111 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:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/space-station-research-and-technology\/\" 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>Space Station Research and Technology<\/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\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.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\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg 1041w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg?resize=200,300 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg?resize=768,1152 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg?resize=682,1024 682w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg?resize=1024,1536 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg?resize=267,400 267w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg?resize=400,600 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.jpg?resize=600,900 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/iss064e015250.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\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/space-station-research-and-technology\/space-station-technology-demonstration\/\" 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>Space Station Technology Demonstration<\/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=\"1022\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/biomolecule_sequencer_hardware_closeup.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\/2017\/10\/biomolecule_sequencer_hardware_closeup.jpg 4928w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/biomolecule_sequencer_hardware_closeup.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/biomolecule_sequencer_hardware_closeup.jpg?resize=768,511 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/biomolecule_sequencer_hardware_closeup.jpg?resize=1024,682 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/biomolecule_sequencer_hardware_closeup.jpg?resize=1536,1022 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/biomolecule_sequencer_hardware_closeup.jpg?resize=2048,1363 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/biomolecule_sequencer_hardware_closeup.jpg?resize=400,266 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/biomolecule_sequencer_hardware_closeup.jpg?resize=600,399 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/biomolecule_sequencer_hardware_closeup.jpg?resize=900,599 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/biomolecule_sequencer_hardware_closeup.jpg?resize=1200,799 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/biomolecule_sequencer_hardware_closeup.jpg?resize=2000,1331 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:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/humans-in-space\/\" 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>Humans In Space<\/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=\"368\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/topic-humans-in-space.jpg?w=368\" 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\/2021\/03\/topic-humans-in-space.jpg 368w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/topic-humans-in-space.jpg?resize=197,300 197w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/topic-humans-in-space.jpg?resize=263,400 263w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 368px) 100vw, 368px\" \/><\/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>Growing Plants in Space As humans explore space, we will want to bring plants for both aesthetic and practical reasons. We already know from our pioneering astronauts that fresh flowers and gardens on the International Space Station create a beautiful atmosphere and let us take a little piece of Earth with us on our journeys. [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":342539,"parent":175518,"menu_order":0,"template":"","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":[]},"categories":[2862],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[],"coauthors":[8382],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"WebPage","headline":"Growing Plants in Space","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/exploration-research-and-technology\/growing-plants-in-space\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/exploration-research-and-technology\/growing-plants-in-space\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/matt-romeyn.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/matt-romeyn.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA Centers & Facilities","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Danielle Sempsrott"}],"creator":["Danielle Sempsrott"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA Centers & Facilities","Kennedy Space Center"],"dateCreated":"2019-04-09T22:08:25Z","datePublished":"2019-04-09T22:08:25Z","dateModified":"2023-12-08T20:55:03Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"Growing Plants in Space\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/exploration-research-and-technology\/growing-plants-in-space\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"index\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/matt-romeyn.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2019-04-09T22:08:25Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities,Kennedy Space Center\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Danielle Sempsrott\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":9,"time_ago":"5 years","featured_image":{"id":342539,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/matt-romeyn.jpg","title":"Matt Romeyn in Veggie Lab","alt":"NASA's Matt Romeyn works in the Crop Food Production Research Area of the Space Station Processing Facility at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.","caption":"NASA's Matt Romeyn works in the Crop Food Production Research Area of the Space Station Processing Facility at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida."},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/61931"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/topic"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/61931\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":577848,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/61931\/revisions\/577848"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/175518"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/342539"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61931"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61931"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=61931"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=61931"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=61931"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}