The astronauts of NASA are preparing to test the first fresh vegetable grown in space: red lettuce.
The crew members of the International Space Station (ISS) will test the lettuce cultivated for a NASA experiment. Veg-01 aimed to test a plant growth system.
Giving new meaning to "clean diet", astronauts must first clean citric acid-based leafy vegetables to make sure the food is disinfected and safe to eat.
But the astronauts are not allowed to devour all the production. Half of the vegetables will have to be packed, sorted and returned to Earth for further science analysis.
The Veg-01 experiment is a critical part of NASA's trip to Mars, as it plans that the crew will grow their own food on long-term exploration missions.
The longer the Earth goes, the greater the need to cultivate plants for its food, the recycling of the atmosphere but also for psychological benefits, said NASA scientist Dr Gioia Massa.
Astronauts can also use the Veggie project for recreational purposes, doing gardening during large space missions, according to NASA.
The plants are housed in a collapsible and expandable Veggie unit, which features a flat light display with red, blue and green LEDs that help plant growth and observation.
So far, ISS astronauts have been able to access limited types of fruit and vegetables, as reported by Gioia Massa.
“The crew has some fresh fruits or vegetables, such as carrots and apples, with each resupply ship.”
"But the quantity is limited and of course they must be consumed quickly."
