NASA first-ever space-grown plant entirely in space and shared an image of the zinnia flower that flourished on the International Space Station (ISS), announcing their remarkable achievement.
Plants in space are not only for show, but also for understanding how to cultivate food for long-term missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond. Nasa envisions that space gardening will help with microgravity research and will also provide astronauts with a source of fresh food and a sense of well-being.
IMAGE BY NASA
The Veggie facility aboard the ISS, which Nasa astronaut Kjell Lindgren started in 2015, includes the zinnia plant. The Veggie system uses seed-filled rooting “pillows” and LED lights to grow plants in orbit. Zinnias were chosen because they are edible, colorful and relatively easy to grow.
However, growing plants in space is not without challenges. The zinnias faced issues such as mold growth, watering problems and leaf curling. Astronaut Scott Kelly, who was on board the ISS at the time, cared for the plants and nursed them back to health. He even photographed a bouquet of the flowers in the space station’s cupola against the backdrop of Earth and shared it on social media for Valentine’s Day 2016.
NASA first-ever space-grown plant. Nasa astronauts have grown other plants on the ISS successfully, such as lettuce, tomatoes and chili peppers. They plan to grow more varieties of crops in the future, using advanced systems such as the Advanced Plant Habitat, which can control temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide, light and nutrient delivery.
Nasa claims that growing zinnias gives researchers on Earth insights into microgravity plant development and astronauts autonomous gardening skills for deep space missions. The image of the zinnia plant has inspired many science enthusiasts to express their admiration and curiosity.
“This zinnia was grown in orbit as part of the veggie facility aboard the International Space Station. Scientists have been studying plants in space since the 1970s, but Nasa astronaut Kjell Lindgren started this particular experiment on the ISS in 2015.” – Nasa
“They’re good for our psychological well-being on Earth and in space. They also will be critical for keeping astronauts healthy on long-duration missions.” – Nasa
““First ever flower grown in space makes its debut!” NASA astronaut Scott Kelly declared and revealed to the world the bright orange zinnias that had blossomed on board the International Space Station on Jan. 16.” – Space.com
