NASA and Partners Cultivate Food Sources on the International Space Station

NASA and its international partners are conducting a series of research investigations aboard the International Space Station (ISS) focused on cultivating plants and algae. The research aims to understand how the space environment affects these organisms, which are relevant to nutrition for crew members on future long-duration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

The research is designed to address the challenge of maintaining sustainable food sources for crews on missions where resupply from Earth is not feasible.

Overview of Research Activities

The research is supported by several experiments delivered to the ISS aboard Northrop Grumman's 24th commercial resupply mission for NASA. A notable recent activity involved NASA astronaut Jessica Meir harvesting and consuming fresh Mizuna mustard greens grown on the station.

Key Research Investigations

• Lead Agency: NASA
• Subject: Alfalfa (Medicago sativa)
• Primary Focus: To determine how the plant interacts with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in its roots under spaceflight conditions.
• Secondary Focus: To examine the effects of reduced lignin, a compound that reinforces plant cell walls and helps plants grow upright against Earth's gravity. Researchers are studying whether plants require less lignin in microgravity and if reduced levels could make plant material easier to recycle within a spacecraft's life support system.

• Lead Agency: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
• Subject: Spirulina algae (Arthrospira)
• Primary Focus: To test a method of growing spirulina on a thin-film surface instead of in traditional water tanks.
• Rationale: Spirulina is noted for being high in protein, B vitamins, and antioxidants, and it can convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. The thin-film cultivation method is being evaluated for its potential to allow more efficient food production while conserving water and generating oxygen aboard a spacecraft.

• Lead Agency: European Space Agency (ESA)
• Subject: Seeds from several plant species.
• Primary Focus: To expose seeds to spaceflight conditions aboard the ISS and determine if their subsequent growth is affected.
• Context: This investigation builds upon a previous seed study conducted in 2015.

Research Context and Objectives

NASA has stated that nutrition will be a critical factor for crew health and mission success on voyages to distant worlds. A key objective of this research is to develop the knowledge and systems required to grow and care for plants and other nutritional sources, like algae, in space environments.

This capability is considered a prerequisite for planning long-term human stays on the Moon and Mars.