#NASAatHome: Spaceport Series Episode 8: The future of plants in space

Summary

Join NASA's Joshua Santora from the Kennedy Space Center as he explores plant growth in space. Featuring Ralph Fritsche and Matt Romeyn, experts in space crop production, the video delves into the advanced plant habitat aboard the ISS, which allows controlled environment agriculture. They discuss the significance of growing plants like hatch chili peppers in space for nutrition and psychological benefits, crucial for long-term missions to the Moon and Mars. The video also highlights NASA's at-home initiatives, including the Rocket Ranch podcast with NFL quarterback Josh Dobbs.

Takeaways

• 🚀 The video is part of NASA's 'At Home Spaceport Series' hosted by Joshua Santora, discussing plant growth in space.
• 🌱 The Advanced Plant Habitat is a state-of-the-art facility designed for growing plants in space, featuring advanced lighting and environmental control systems.
• 🌶️ The first crop to be tested in the Advanced Plant Habitat is a type of hatch chili pepper from New Mexico, chosen for its adaptability to space conditions.
• 💧 The Advanced Plant Habitat includes an advanced watering system and sensors to monitor moisture levels, temperature, and oxygen levels in the root zone.
• 🌿 Compared to the Veggie plant growth system, the Advanced Plant Habitat offers more sophisticated environmental control and data monitoring capabilities.
• 🌍 The CO2 levels on the Space Station are much higher than on Earth, which is crucial for plant growth as it affects transpiration and photosynthesis.
• 🥒 Peppers are chosen for their nutritional value, particularly high in vitamin C, and their potential to add flavor and variety to astronauts' diets.
• 🌗 The research aims to support long-term space missions, where fresh food resupply from Earth will not be feasible, necessitating on-site food production.
• 🌌 The psychological benefits of growing plants in space are being studied, as they can provide a sense of home and enjoyment for astronauts.
• 🛰️ The script mentions future concepts for plant growth systems on the Moon and Mars, which may involve using local resources and 3D printing for habitat construction.
• 🤖 The guests, Ralph and Matt, express excitement about their unexpected involvement in space plant growth research, highlighting the novelty of the field.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the NASA at Home Spaceport series?

The NASA at Home Spaceport series is a program aimed at educating and engaging the public about various space-related topics, such as plant growth in space, by hosting live discussions with experts and showcasing research components.

Why is plant growth in space an important area of research?

Plant growth in space is crucial for long-term space missions as it can supplement astronauts' diets with fresh food, provide necessary nutrients that degrade in prepackaged meals over time, and offer psychological benefits by giving crew members a task reminiscent of home.

What is the Advanced Plant Habitat and how does it differ from the Veggie system?

The Advanced Plant Habitat is a state-of-the-art, fully controlled environment for growing plants in space. It includes advanced features like an automated watering system, numerous sensors for monitoring root zone metrics, and atmosphere control systems. Compared to the Veggie system, which is more basic with passive watering, the Advanced Plant Habitat is more sophisticated and capable of growing a wider variety of plants.

What is the significance of CO2 levels in space plant growth?

CO2 levels on the Space Station are maintained between 1,500 and 3,000 parts per million, which is higher than the Earth's atmosphere. This is important for plants as CO2 is a primary food source for photosynthesis, and the higher levels can affect plant growth and transpiration.

Why are chili peppers being grown in the Advanced Plant Habitat?

Chili peppers are being tested because they are rich in vitamin C, offer a variety of flavors, and can be a source of fresh food for astronauts. The specific type being grown, the Espanola variety from New Mexico, is chosen for its adaptability to space conditions, such as shorter day cycles and temperature variations.

What is the '10-day challenge for popcorn' mentioned in the script?

The '10-day challenge for popcorn' is an interactive activity where the host and his son planted popcorn seeds and shared the process and results with the audience. It serves as an educational tool to engage viewers in the process of plant growth and to encourage them to share their own experiences using the hashtag NASA at Home.

How does the Advanced Plant Habitat contribute to future space missions?

The Advanced Plant Habitat is designed to test and improve plant growth techniques for future space missions, especially for long-duration stays on the Moon or Mars. It helps in developing the capability to grow supplemental food sources for astronauts, reducing the need for resupply from Earth.

What are the psychological benefits of growing plants in space?

Growing plants in space provides astronauts with a sense of accomplishment, a connection to Earth, and a task that can be therapeutic and reminiscent of home. It can help improve the crew's mental well-being during long missions away from Earth.

What is the role of the Kennedy Space Center in the Advanced Plant Habitat project?

The Kennedy Space Center is involved in acquiring and testing different hardware systems for growing plants in space. It serves as a research hub for developing and refining the technology and methods used in the Advanced Plant Habitat.

What are some of the challenges faced when growing plants in space?

Challenges include managing the microgravity environment, ensuring proper watering and nutrient delivery, maintaining optimal CO2 levels, and dealing with issues like mold and poor drainage. Additionally, the plants need to be chosen for their ability to adapt to space conditions and provide nutritional benefits.

How can the public get involved and stay updated with NASA's plant growth research?

The public can engage with NASA's plant growth research by participating in activities like the popcorn challenge, asking questions through live chats, subscribing to NASA's YouTube channel, and following the NASA at Home website for updates and resources.