Hydroponic grown produce has grown in popularity and is now being researched for it’s ability to be utilized in future space stations. Researchers have studied over 100 plant species for their yield effective effectively without the use of soil. Their being analyzed for a combination of factors including nutrient composition, yield, disease-resistance and taste. Special lights designed to promote enhanced photosynthesis are anticipated to boost growth rates.
Other Space Efficient Crops
In addition to lettuce, which is the highest in terms of growth rapidity, scientists are very interested in white potatoes, sweet potatoes, wheat and soybeans. So far, researchers have managed to produce wheat that has grown in 65 days and soybeans that have grown in 80.
The Future of Farming
Aeroponics systems are being designed with high-pressure pumps that spray nutrients and water onto plant roots, which will likely become an integral aspect of future space exploration missions. Aeroponic growing systems can yield efficient, clean and rapid food production. Crops can being planted and harvested all year long without interruption and/or contamination from soil use or pesticides. Research has shown that aeroponic systems produce plants that take in more vitamins and mineral, creating healthier and more nutritious plants.
These “space gardens” can be easily assembled and disassembled as need be. They can provide as much as half of the necessary calories for astronauts. It can also help to recycle nutrients and provide drinking water and create oxygen in space, and possibly even building materials.
How Hydroponics Can Be More Effective in Space
NASA’s current interest in the use of hydroponics for the space frontier and life on earth as the logistics of transporting soil along on space missions is impractical. With the use of hydroponics, scientists can supply astronauts with fresh food sources and remove toxic carbon dioxide from the air inside their spacecraft while also creating oxygen.
Obstacles to Overcome
Despite the incredible headway that is being made, there is still along way to go in understanding the growing of plants in outer space, where there is no gravity, air movement or sunlight. However, many see the day when we have successfully raised a plant from a seedling to the fruition of its life cycle as a sign of the expansion of life beyond the earth.
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