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In a major ‘breakthrough’ for the plant research program on the International Space Station (ISS), the first transplant of plants has taken place 400 kilometers above Earth at the Vegetable Production System (Veggie) facility of the ISS. According to NASA’s January 29 statement on the “blessing for the future of space production,” astronaut Mike Hopkins recently noticed that some plants did not exist at the station and thus executed the first transplant of plants within of the establishment. The US space agency also explained that NASA investigates crop production because plants can be beneficial in providing nutrients to the crew aboard the ISS.
It said in a statement: “NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins recently noticed that some plants were not thriving aboard the station, so he performed the first transplant of plants within the agency’s Plant Production System (Veggie). NASA investigates crop production in space because plants can provide nutrients to astronaut crews on long-duration missions, such as a mission to Mars. “
Hopkins into the Expedition 64 crew member and had arrived on the ISS for a six-month mission aboard the SpaceX Crew-1 mission. NASA elaborated that it was growing different varieties of mustards and lettuces on VEG-031, which is one of two Veggie experiments currently growing in orbit. It was when he noticed how the mustards grew normally on his “pillows” but the lettuces did not. On January 14, Hopkins, with input from scientists at the Veggie program at Kennedy, transplanted additional pillow shoots of thriving plants into two of the distressed ‘pillows’ containing clay-based growing media and fertilizers.
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Why wasn’t the transplant tried before?
The technique used by the Expedition 64 crew member, NASA said, is considered “risky” even for plants on Earth. Therefore, the US space agency said it had not yet been attempted at the ISS plants until Hopkins took the plunge earlier this month. He further said, “The transplants – ‘Red Russian’ kale and ‘Extra Dwarf’ pak choi – are surviving and growing alongside donor kale and pak choi. The remaining red romaine lettuce and ‘Wasabi’ mustard from the experiment are also ready for harvest. ”However, he also acknowledged that plant scientists at Kennedy still don’t have an answer as to why some lettuces didn’t grow like they did in experiments. previous.
“On Earth, this transplantation technique is dangerous for plants in this delicate state, and NASA had never tried it in a space experiment. But it worked, ”NASA said.
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