Space
Space Flowers: Astronauts Grow Blooms on the ISS for New Year's
Catherine Griffin
First Posted: Nov 17, 2015 08:25 AM EST
It isn't only vegetables that are being grown in space. Flowers are also having a turn. NASA has announced that flowers could be blooming on the International Space Station after the New Year.
On Monday morning, Nov. 16, astronaut Kjell Lindgren activated what is known as the Veggie plant growth system and its rooting "pillows." These pillows contained Zinnia seeds, which will eventually emerge as flowers.
This is the first time ever that a flowering crop experiment has been grown on the ISS. This may provide scientists on Earth with information about whether or not flowering plants could be grown in space. This, in turn, may have implications for long-term spaceflight, where astronauts could grow their own food.
"Growing a flowering crop is more challenging than growing a vegetative crop such as lettuce," said Gioia Massa, NASA Kennedy Space Center payload scientist for Veggie, in a news release. "Lighting and other environmental parameters are more critical."
The Zinnias will grow for a total of 60 days, which is twice as long as the first and second crop of Outredgeous red romaine lettuce that grew on the space station beforehand. In order to simulate light, LED lights will be used with them turned on for 10 hours and off for 14 hours.
"Growing the Zinnia plants will help advance our knowledge of how plants flower in the Veggie growth system, and will enable fruiting plants like tomatoes to be grown and eaten in space using Veggie as the in-orbit garden," said Trent Smith, Veggie program manager.
The findings could be huge for the future of space travel, and may allow for the establishment of colonies elsewhere.
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First Posted: Nov 17, 2015 08:25 AM EST
It isn't only vegetables that are being grown in space. Flowers are also having a turn. NASA has announced that flowers could be blooming on the International Space Station after the New Year.
On Monday morning, Nov. 16, astronaut Kjell Lindgren activated what is known as the Veggie plant growth system and its rooting "pillows." These pillows contained Zinnia seeds, which will eventually emerge as flowers.
This is the first time ever that a flowering crop experiment has been grown on the ISS. This may provide scientists on Earth with information about whether or not flowering plants could be grown in space. This, in turn, may have implications for long-term spaceflight, where astronauts could grow their own food.
"Growing a flowering crop is more challenging than growing a vegetative crop such as lettuce," said Gioia Massa, NASA Kennedy Space Center payload scientist for Veggie, in a news release. "Lighting and other environmental parameters are more critical."
The Zinnias will grow for a total of 60 days, which is twice as long as the first and second crop of Outredgeous red romaine lettuce that grew on the space station beforehand. In order to simulate light, LED lights will be used with them turned on for 10 hours and off for 14 hours.
"Growing the Zinnia plants will help advance our knowledge of how plants flower in the Veggie growth system, and will enable fruiting plants like tomatoes to be grown and eaten in space using Veggie as the in-orbit garden," said Trent Smith, Veggie program manager.
The findings could be huge for the future of space travel, and may allow for the establishment of colonies elsewhere.
Related Stories
Medicines Do Not Expire Faster in Space: Good News for Long Spaceflight Missions
NASA Astronauts on Spacewalk Encounter Toxic Ammonia Leak
For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone