The first astronaut to eat long leaf red lettuce grown on the universe

Astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) yesterday for the first time tasted long-leaf red lettuce grown in a zero gravity environment.

Astronauts on the ISS for the first time eat vegetables grown in the universe

Lettuce is cleaned with a disinfectant solution before eating. Half a batch of vegetables in this harvest was also transferred to Earth for further analysis of growing crops in the universe. Previously, lettuce grown on ISS had passed the microbiological safety test.

The astronauts on ISS for the first time have been tested on red lettuce grown in a zero gravity environment by the VEGGIE vegetable production system.(Photo: NASA)

The astronauts on ISS began activating lettuce seeds and watering for the first time in May last year. After 33 days, the batch of harvested vegetables is transferred to Earth to study whether they are safe enough for human consumption. Another batch of seeds was planted in July 2015 after more than a year of storage in the universe.

The mission of growing vegetables in space is carried out by VEGGIE , a vegetable production system developed by Orbital Technologies. VEGGIE system with two bags of lettuce seeds and a zinnias seed bag were brought to ISS with the SpaceX spacecraft in April 2014.

VEGGIE is structured like a small greenhouse with a red, green and blue LED system that stimulates growth. In particular, red and blue lights emit more light and save more energy. Green light is added to help vegetables look like normal, overcome the situation of vegetables growing into strange purple plants in space conditions.

"Blue and red wavelengths are the minimum conditions for good crop growth, " said Dr. Ray Wheeler, head of the Advanced Life Support team at the Office of Discovery and Technology Research Programs at Kennedy for. good.

After the first batch of vegetables was transferred from the space station last year, Dr. Gioia Massa of the US Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) worked with a team of doctors and safety experts to beat Price and approval for crew on ISS to use this food.

"Very good microbiological tests in lots of red lettuce are harvested for the first time, " Dr. Massa said.

IBTimes said, vegetable cultivation technology will be an essential part of missions to explore Mars and other distant planets. Vegetables grown with VEGGIE system help supplement valuable fiber for astronauts to ensure health. Besides, vegetable cultivation also plays an important psychological role, limiting stress for the crew in missions that extend beyond the universe.

Growing and caring for vegetables from the Earth with great value and positively impacting the spirit for people working long-term in space, Alexandra Whitmire, behavioral health researcher, Center NASA human studies emphasize.

Veggie system for growing vegetables.(Photo: NASA)

VEGGIE vegetable growing system can also be applied on earth in areas where there is a shortage of clean water and limited light.Middle Eastern countries with poor water resources are studying this system towards a more efficient way of farming in the future.