Revolutionizing Space Cuisine: How Scientists are Engineering Plant Life for Astronauts

While astronauts are in orbit around the earth, it is often not chocolate or cookies they yearn for, but rather a fresh, crispy salad.

This craving proves challenging to satisfy due to the limited capability of cultivating and propagating fresh vegetables aboard space shuttles.

However, researchers are striving to alter this situation.

Researcher Leni Campbell-Clause, based in Perth, dedicates her time to cultivating nutrient-rich plants that can thrive in space conditions.

“When astronauts travel to space, they frequently have to consume vacuum-packed food, which may not be particularly appealing,” stated Ms. Campbell-Clause.

According to her, within the next few years, humans will not only cultivate plants on space shuttles but also on the lunar surface.

Waste-free and nutritious

Researchers at Plants For Space, a global research consortium partly affiliated with the University of WA, are engaged in a seven-year initiative aimed at “re-envisioning the design and production of plants” in a space environment.

Their findings will be included as essential cargo on NASA’s Artemis III mission, expected to launch in mid-2027.

Beyond being nutritious, the researchers are also concentrating on preventing the plants from producing waste.

She noted that plants such as moss and duckweed are ideal choices because they can be genetically altered and do not possess roots.

Desiring a ‘loaded salad’ in space

Australian astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg is among those who will benefit from this research.

“Almost everything that astronauts consume today is sourced from Earth, which is a challenge we need to address if we aim to travel beyond,” remarked Ms. Bennell-Pegg.

“Numerous astronauts in space desire a truly hearty salad or something similar. That is quite challenging. You cannot have fresh salad items up there.”

Ms Bennell-Pegg mentioned that receiving an orange in space is a “rare pleasure” that might be accessible when a resupply craft is launched. Typically, long-lasting food is favoured.

Astronauts face the danger of diminishing muscle or bone mass because of the microgravity setting of space. They must exercise consistently and consume nutritionally rich food to preserve their well-being.

“You need to consume a considerable number of calories … to perform the demanding tasks up there and return to Earth in good health,” Ms Bennell-Pegg remarked.

Ms Bennell-Pegg completed the astronaut training program earlier this year, becoming a member of the exclusive group of “space-ready” astronauts eligible for mission opportunities.

The challenge with duckweed

Strawberries and lettuce can be cultivated at the International Space Station, but lead Plants for Space researcher Ian Small emphasized the necessity of expanding the range of food that can be grown there.

“We’re attempting to create a plant that can be completely consumed, thus generating no waste during the agricultural phase of the cycle,” he stated.

Professor Small along with his team are striving to enhance the nutritional value of plants to fully support astronauts throughout their missions without needing additional provisions.

In their labs, they mimic conditions similar to space, enclosed environments where they control light, humidity, and nutrients entirely.

“That’s why we’re shifting towards plants like duckweed, for instance, that we can utilize entirely, with no roots or soil needed, grows rapidly, and propagates naturally,” Professor Small remarked.

He indicated that the team has faced numerous hurdles.

Duckweed “lacks a pleasant flavor,” but Professor Small is optimistic that this issue can be addressed through ongoing studies and biotechnological manipulations.

The greater concern is the absence of gravity in space.

“Microgravity, or complete absence of gravity, is something that plants do not face here on Earth. Therefore, we have to consider these circumstances from the ground up,” Professor Small concluded.

As space evolves into a “new frontier” of industry, Professor Small emphasized the necessity of keeping biology as the focal point.

“The majority of individuals engaged in space ventures, like Elon Musk, possess an engineering background,” he remarked.

“They typically don’t consider the biological aspects. Our responsibility is to integrate biology into the equation,” he stated.

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