On August 11, the crew of astronauts of the CREW-11 MISSION headed for the International Space Stationtransporting an element that can be a revolution for space agriculture. We refer to the seed seed pads VEG-03which are part of an experiment carried by NASA itself.
With this experiment, the NASA seeks to discover new forms of How to grow fresh foods in adverse conditions and microgravity. Actually, that the goal is double. On the one hand, we want to feed astronauts in a healthy way during the longest rooms. And on the other hand, NASA wants to lay the foundations to grow foods that allow future missions to distant or remote places, such as Marte O LA LA Luna.
The development of the experiment
The experiment in question is developing in a cultivation chamber very similar to that of a cabin suitcase, known as Veggie system. This device has a combination of lights LED which provides the necessary and adequate spectrum to allow plant growth.
It should be noted that the environment is surrounded by a set of flexible walls that are expended as plants mature, thus generating a semi -confine spaceocapable of imitating some typical conditions of a terrestrial greenhouse.
The seeds are placed in the fabric padswhich contain a special clay and Liberation fertilizer controls. From this phase, astronauts must monitor the growth process and put water when necessary.
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Some tests that go beyond space
NASA has indicated that the methods carried out to cultivate in microgravity could be extrapolated to land agriculture, especially in communities with limited resources or in urban environments.
In summary, all these developing cultivation systems could Inspire new solutions to manufacture and produce food in extreme conditionswhich would allow astronauts to make longer trips and more distant places.
