Historic Vegetable Moment on the Space Station   
       
   Jan. 20, 2016:  On August 10th, astronauts on the International Space Station   
   sampled their first space-grown salad and pronounced it "good." They were   
   treated to freshly harvested red romaine lettuce grown in the "Veggie" plant   
   growth chamber-a special structure designed to make gardens flourish in   
   weightlessness.   
       
   On Earth, garden florae battle such foes as cutworms, aphids, slugs, root   
   maggots, blights, and rots. But weightlessness is one thing no Earthly   
   vegetation encounters. In a weightless environment, there is no up and down,   
   so roots grow in all directions. Water and substrate, the materials used to   
   anchor these plants and allow for root growth, tend to float away.   
       
   With Veggie, these problems are solved by using 'plant pillows' -- bags of   
   substrate with 'space dirt' and controlled-release fertilizer. Wicks are   
   implanted in the bags to draw water into the substrate and provide a place to   
   glue the seeds, which are oriented so roots will grow 'down' into the   
   substrate and shoots that emerge will push out of the bag.   
       
   LEDs furnish light for photosynthesis and give the shoots a sense of direction   
   so they keep growing upward. The walls of the Veggie chamber can expand to   
   make room for the growing crop.   
       
   According to astronaut Scott Kelly's taste buds, this special space-tailored   
   arrangement works.   
       
   "It tastes good, kind of like arugula," he says, chewing his first bite of   
   space-lettuce. He explains the importance of growing such culinary delights in   
   space.   
       
   ".if we're going to go to Mars someday, .there's going to be a long period of   
   time where we're going to have to be self-sufficient .and having the ability   
   for us to grow our own food is a big step in that direction."   
       
   The astronauts celebrated the historic vegetable moment by toasting their   
   lettuce leaves and shouting "cheers." Before long, they'll be toasting   
   cabbage, tomatoes, and more. The next SpaceX delivery will supply some of the   
   seeds.   
       
   "We will be sending up . [seeds for] a small cabbage that is very highly rated   
   for flavor, and additional red romaine lettuce," says Gioia Massa, Veggie   
   payload scientist at Kennedy Space Center. "We are working on crop selection   
   with dwarf tomatoes and dwarf peppers.."   
       
   Upcoming experiments will use various ratios of red and blue lights and   
   different fertilizers in attempts to improve crop yield, nutrition, and   
   flavor, both on Earth and in space. Other botanical treats are planned for the   
   astronauts as well.   
       
   "We have additional seeds on board the station," says Massa. "These are   
   zinnias--really pretty daisy-like flowers that help us understand longer   
   duration growing plants that have to flower in space such as tomato.  We hope   
   to have flowers in January."   
       
   That kind of enjoyment is expected to be an important added bonus to Veggie.   
       
   "I think the psychological benefit of growing plants in space will be   
   incalculable," she says. "Having living plants could help with stress and   
   increase the crews' enjoyment. Growing plants can . provide the sights,   
   smells, and tastes of Earth. Fresh produce could add variety and interest to   
   the diet, and the textures of fresh vegetables (crunchy, juicy) could add a   
   new dimension to the packaged diet."   
       
   Scottish poet Alexander Smith said it best:   
       
    "How deeply seated in the human heart is the liking for gardens and   
   gardening."   
       
   Apparently the same is true of human hearts - in space.   
       
   For more from the International Space station, go to www.nasa.gov/station   
       
   For more nutritious news from Earth orbit, and beyond, stay tuned to   
   science.nasa.gov   
       
       
   Regards,   
       
   Roger   
      
   --- DB 3.99 + Windows 10   
    * Origin: NCS BBS - Houma, LoUiSiAna (1:3828/7)