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Astronauts Could Be Growing Beans in Space in 2021
Following the much-celebrated harvest of a head of romaine lettuce aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in 2015, astronauts' vacuum-packed vittles may be kicked up a notch as early as 2021 with the addition of space-grown beans. More salad fixings are also in the cards. After that? The galaxy's the limit.
"The dream of every astronaut is to be able to eat fresh food like strawberries, cherry tomatoes or anything that's really flavorful," Silje Wolff, a plant physiologist at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Space (CIRiS) at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), said in a statement. "Someday that will certainly be possible. We envision a greenhouse with several varieties of vegetables."
Wolff recently wrapped up an experiment where lettuce grew in space in specialized planters that regulate all the water, nutrients, gas and air the plants need.
Though she used artificial soil derived from lava rock as a substrate, Wolff says the goal is for the plants to grow directly in water infused with life-sustaining nutrients. In space, she noted, all the water and food must be recovered, which means that plant fertilization needs to be "as precise as possible."
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @01:31PM (5 children)
Why not grow the plants downward from the ceiling?
(Score: 2) by Immerman on Monday January 14 2019, @02:27PM
Because there is no ceiling, or down, in microgravity. All surfaces are equally non-directional, and it's only the navigation conventions of the space give any sort of directionality at all.
(Score: 2) by Rich26189 on Monday January 14 2019, @04:53PM
There are only two directions in space and downward is not one of them. They are: Away and Towards.
(Score: 2) by ElizabethGreene on Monday January 14 2019, @05:16PM (2 children)
The hard part about this is that surface tension of water wants to enclose the entire plant in a ball of water. They have to have something clever to prevent that in the soil-less culture tanks.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Monday January 14 2019, @07:32PM
Make a ball of dirt, with a bit of netting to keep it round and limit. Seeds all around the periphery (think: chinese sesame bun). Hook on one side optional.
Surface tension will draw and keep the water inside the ball. Plants will grow outwards towards whatever light they want.
Floating green balls of grass, fruits and veggies would give the station a pretty cool look (yes, until they clog all the fans, killjoys, use the hooks).
Bonus at halloween if some grow asymmetric, and look like floating shrunken/ghost/troll heads.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 14 2019, @09:24PM
Probably relying on capillary action to keep water where they want it.