In a major ‘breakdown’ for the International Space Station (ISS) plant research program, the first plant transplant has taken place 400 kilometers above the Earth at the ISS Vegetable Production System (Veggie) facility. According to NASA’s January 29 report on “the way for the future production of space crops”, astronomer Mike Hopkins recently noticed that some plants did not exist at the station and so ‘first plant transplant within the premises. The U.S. space agency also explained that NASA is studying crop production because plants can be beneficial for feeding the crew aboard the ISS.
He said in a statement, “NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins recently noticed that some plants were thriving aboard the station, so he implemented the first plant transplant within the Vegetable Production System of group (Veggie). NASA is studying crop production in space because plants can feed astronaut crews on long-term missions, such as missions to Mars. ”
Hopkins was a member of the crew of the Expedition 64 and had reached the ISS for a six-month mission aboard the SpaceX Crew-1 mission. NASA explained that it was looking at different types of mustards and lettuce in VEG-031, which is one of two Veggie experiments currently growing in orbit. It was only when he noticed how mustards normally grew in their “pillows” but there was no lettuce. On January 14, Hopkins, with input from Kennedy’s Veggie program scientists, added additional sprouts from successful plant pillows to two of the tricky ‘pillows’ in which growth media are based on clay and fertilizer.
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Why was an earlier referral not attempted?
The method used by NASA’s Expedition 64 crew member said it is “dangerous” even for plants on Earth. Thus, the U.S. space agency said an attempt had not yet been made on ISS plants until Hopkins took the step earlier this month. He added, “Transplants – ‘Red Russian’ cabbage and pak choi ‘Extra Dwarf’ – live and grow with the donor kale and pak choi. The remaining red romaine lettu and “Wasabi” mustard in the test are also ready for harvest. However, he also understood that plant scientists in Kennedy still do not have an answer as to why some lettuce did not grow as it did in previous experiments.
“On Earth, this method of transmission is dangerous for plants in this delicate state, and NASA has never tried it in a space test. But it worked, ”said NASA.
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