Martian salad: Researchers conduct experiments to give astronauts access to fresh vegetables

( Natural News ) Having succeeded at the task of raising lettuce in space-like conditions, Norwegian researchers are now designing planters that can grow beans aboard a spaceship. This will give astronauts the ability to cultivate plants during trips between Earth and Mars . Astronauts miss life on Earth. They enjoy anything that reminds them of their home planet. Not only will they be delighted to eat fresh food, they will be just as happy to play gardener with their vegetables. That is why researchers at Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) conducted a vegetable-growing experiment using lava rock as synthetic soil. They reported successfully raising lettuce in nutrient-rich water. Their end goal is to create a space greenhouse that can grow more than one kind of vegetable. The greenhouse will be able to supply astronauts with a variety of fresh foods during extremely long trips. The International Space Station (ISS) has been able to support crews for six months straight. But NASA’s planned missions to Mars in 2030 will last more than twice that long. (Related: Could the new type of food for astronauts be made from zooplankton? Biologists seem to think so .) These planters can one day serve as a greenhouse for hungry astronauts “The way space travel works today, it’s almost impossible to take along all the resources you need,” explains NTNU research Silje Wolff. “That’s why we have to develop a biological system so astronauts can produce their own food, and recycle all of the resources.” Mother Nature’s micronutrient secret : Organic Broccoli Sprout Capsules now available, delivering 280mg of high-density nutrition, including the extraordinary "sulforaphane" and "glucosinolate" nutrients found only in cruciferous healing foods. Every lot laboratory tested. See availability here. The menu aboard spacecraft is limited to freeze-dried and vacuum-packed stuff […]

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