In their journey into space, astronauts face unique challenges, including those related to food. For this reason, NASA has developed Veggie, a revolutionary plant production system that allows astronauts to grow and consume fresh vegetables on the International Space Station (ISS). It uses the same concepts as the Hydroponics. Veggie is more than just a food source, it is also a way to enhance the well-being and satisfaction of the crew during their space missions. Let’s explore how this system works and the results it has achieved so far.
Features of the Veggie System:
Veggie is a plant growth system specifically designed for the microgravity environment of space. It consists of a set of six special pillows filled with a clay-based growth medium and fertilizers. These pillows are essential for evenly distributing water, nutrients, and air around the plant roots, thus preventing them from drowning in water or experiencing oxygen deprivation due to the way fluids behave in the absence of gravity.
One of the main challenges in growing plants in space is guiding their growth in the absence of gravity. To address this issue, Veggie utilizes an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that emit a range of lights suitable for plant growth. Typically, the Veggie chamber emits a pink-magenta light as plants reflect a lot of green light and utilize more red and blue wavelengths.
Results Achieved So Far:
To date, the Veggie system has been successful in growing and harvesting a variety of plants in space. These include three types of lettuce, Chinese cabbage, mizuna mustard, Russian red kale, and zinnia flowers. Astronaut Scott Kelly was particularly delighted with the zinnia flowers, capturing an impressive photograph of them floating in the International Space Station’s cupola.
An important concern was the growth of harmful microbes on the plant. So far, no harmful contamination has been detected, and the food produced in the Veggie system has been safe and flavorful for the station crew.
Future Prospects:
The team at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center has ambitious plans for Veggie. These include expanding the crops and incorporating plants such as tomatoes and peppers. Foods like berries, certain types of beans, and other antioxidant-rich foods would have the additional advantage of providing radiation protection for astronauts.
VEGGIE is a remarkable achievement in the field of plant production, both in space and on Earth. This innovative system provides astronauts with access to fresh and nutritious food during their space missions, enhancing their well-being and improving their diet. At the same time, Veggie represents a promising technology to help us grow our own vegetables at home, saving money and space. With continued research and improvement of this system, we can expect future extraordinary achievements in the field of space agriculture.
