This will be a huge step forward in providing food for human outer space missions.
According to Quartz, a group of German scientists currently working temporarily at the EDEN-ISS research station in Antarctica has successfully grown and harvested vegetables in the absence of specialized soil and sunlight. Working in a container-sized laboratory in a remote frozen land, the team obtained about 3.5kg of greens after the first growing season, including herbs, agurula lettuce, lettuce and red radish.
Scientist Paul Zabel holds the results of the research team in his hand
The salad “bowls” are grown in greenhouses.
Radish.
Lettuce Agurula.
Swiss lettuce and red radish.
The first bunches of vegetables are harvested.
Newly planted lettuce.
Parsley, basil and chili plants are also grown here.
EDEN-ISS Research Laboratory.
The researchers are currently working on the EDEN-ISS project, in conjunction with the German Center for Aeronautics and Space. The goal of this project is to find ways to grow and provide food for human missions to outer space. The isolated and harsh environment of Antarctica has made it an ideal place for researchers to simulate the surface of Mars or the Moon.