Space travel looks like it’s only a matter of time. After news that astronauts will soon start planting potatoes on Mars, an astronaut has posted a photo on Twitter of the first flower grown in space.
NASA’s Scott Kelly posted a photo of a zinnia, which was grown in the Veggie Lab of the International Space Station (ISS). Kelly captioned the photo with “Yes, there are other life forms in space!”
The Veggie Lab is home to NASA’s experiments on growing plants outside Earth. The zinnia is the agency’s second attempt after a failed attempt to grow lettuce.
According to Trent Smith, Veggie Lab’s project manager:
Growing zinnia plants will help advance our knowledge of how plants flower in the Veggie growth system, and will enable fruiting plants like tomatoes to be grown and eaten in space using Veggie as the in-orbit garden.
Compared to zinnias on Earth, the Veggie Lab’s zinnia has curled petals, which experts attribute to zero gravity.
The Veggie Lab is a research platform for top-growing plant experiments. Its aim is for astronauts in space to enjoy fresh food, as well as gain knowledge on growing food crops.
What else should we grow in space? Share your ideas below!
