ISS experiments: NASA scientists onboard the International Space Station are enjoying tacos made using peppers grown in space. The researchers are up to new experiments, growing plants in space.
Yes! As per the ISS research team, this cultivation of peppers was part of the Plant Habitat-04 experiment of the space agency.
Also, this is the first time when any plant was grown in the ISS or in space. The ISS research team shared about the new development, they also shared how the tacos tasted.
The peppers took four months to grow. Moreover, these were harvested only last week in October.
These peppers were supposed to be sent back to the earth for more analysis but this mission was delayed by a medical issue and it will now be launched later.
As per a NASA report, the space pepper was selected after testing varieties of peppers for two years.
It is a hybrid Hatch pepper. This is a term used for all peppers grown in Hatch, New Mexico, and the Hatch Valley in southern New Mexico.
First plant grown in space
The main challenge remains to feed the crew in low-Earth orbit. Besides, growing peppers in space, NASA astronauts have used the Vegetable Production System, Veggie, to grow three types of lettuce, Chinese cabbage, mizuna mustard, red Russian kale and zinnia flowers or plants in space.
Now, the team at the Kennedy Space Center has plans afoot to grow tomatoes in the future. Moreover, the Veggie garden is a small one and can typically hold six plants.
Besides, its main purpose is to help NASA study plant growth in microgravity, space.
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