Astronauts grow 'nutritious' red lettuce aboard International Space Station

Astronauts on board International Station (ISS) have reportedly grown red romaine lettuce which is free of disease-causing microbes and safe to eat. A study about lettuce experiment was published on March 6 in journal Frontiers in Plant Science. Christina Khodadad, study author and researcher at NASA’s Kennedy Centre told international media that ability to grow food in a sustainable system that is safe for crew consumption will become critical as NASA moves towards longer missions. She added that  "salad type leafy greens" can be grown and consumed fresh with few resources.  

Credits: NASA

'Veggie'

According to study, team of astronauts started growing vegetables inside a vegetable production system called 'Veggie'. ‘Veggies’ are growth chambers equipped with LED lighting and watering system, specifically designed to grow crops in . According to NASA, a ‘Veggie’ is a garden with a size of lugg and can hold about six plants. 

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experiment started in 2014 with crew growing lettuce inside ‘Veggie’ for 33 to 56 days. study reported that lettuce was grown onboard ISS from 'surface sterilised seeds' within ‘Veggie.’  In August 2015, NASA shared a video which showed US astronauts Scott Kelly, Kjell Lindgren and Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui munching on leaves of red lettuce. remainder was sent back to Kennedy Centre for chemical and biological analysis with initial tests showing that y were t only safe but also nutritious. Furr tests confirmed that leaves did t carry any bacteria and number of fungal and mould spores on m were also in rmal range. 

Benefits of -grown vegetables

Astronauts in live on processed, pre-packd rations such as fruits, nuts, chocolate, shrimp cocktails, peanut butter and chicken among or things. se fresh products would reportedly provide astronauts with potassium along with vitamin K, B1 and C, international media reported. 

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