The experiment's success opens the door for larger horticulture projects to be conducted on the International Space Station, set for construction later this decade. The potato plants' growth chamber, labeled Astroculture TM , had been fine tuned on four previous shuttle flights. Wis. The LEDs provide the light used in photosynthesis. Another unique feature of Astroculture TM is its watering system, which delivers water and nutrients to plants by negative pressure through porous, stainless steel tubes. The benefits of having plants in space go well beyond providing a food source, said Bula.
Plants provide a naturally recycling life support system in space.