Astronauts aboard the International Space Station will soon have a new means of growing food. After several delays, NASA today launched the Vegetable Production System (or VEGGIE) aboard SpaceXs Dragon capsule. The plant growth chamber (which looks a bit like it belongs on Star Trek) will grow lettuce inside prototype flight pillows that will help the plants withstand zero gravity. NASA states red, blue, and green LEDs will help sustain the vegetables, and the plant chamber itself can grow to 11.5 inches wide and 14.5 inches deep, making it, according to NASA payload scientist Gioia Massa, the largest plant growth chamber for space to date.
Comments are closed.
