VEGGIE Stories
Watch How Students Help NASA Grow Plants in Space: Growing Beyond Earth
Since 2015, students from across the USA have been partnering with scientists at NASA to advance research on growing plants in space, ultimately to feed astronauts on long-distance space missions, as part of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s Growing Beyond Earth…
NASA Teams Persevere Through Plant Challenges in Space
By Jim Cawley NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Everyone has experienced times when nothing seems to go right; often referred to as having “one of those days.” Well, Dr. Gioia Massa, life sciences project scientist at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in…
Kennedy Scientists Develop New Way to Plant, Nourish Seeds in Space
By Jim Cawley NASA’s Kennedy Space Center What started five years ago as a casual conversation among a small group at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center recently showed results that one day may help feed astronauts on long-duration space missions. Plant…
NASA Astronaut Paints a Picture of Success Growing Plants in Space
By Jim Cawley NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Astronauts on the International Space Station recently enjoyed a fresh supply of leafy greens, thanks in large part to the efforts of Expedition 64 crew member Michael Hopkins. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-1 mission commander…
Mission Commander Thrives as ‘Space Gardener’
By Jim Cawley NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Leerlo en Español aquí. NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins’ enthusiasm for learning to grow plants in space has proven fruitful for the agency’s Vegetable Production System (Veggie). The Expedition 64 crew member, who arrived…
Microgravity Works Wonders With Plant Transplants
By Jim Cawley NASA’s Kennedy Space Center An early challenge turned into a surprise success on the International Space Station that could be a boon for the future of space crop production. NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins recently noticed some plants…
Third Lettuce Crop Begins Growing Aboard Station
Just as farmers on Earth are planting leafy greens for the fall growing season, astronauts aboard the International Space Station are planting their third on-orbit crop of red romaine lettuce. Early this morning, NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough initiated the Veg-03…
Pioneering Space Requires Living Off the Land in the Solar System
As NASA continues preparing for the Journey to Mars, the technology now in development is expanding beyond the spacecraft and propulsion systems needed to get there. NASA scientists and engineers also are developing systems to harness abundant resources available in…
Veggie Will Expand Fresh Food Production on Space Station
A plant growth chamber bound for the International Space Station inside the Dragon capsule on the SpaceX-3 resupply mission may help expand in-orbit food production capabilities in more ways than one, and offer astronauts something they don’t take for granted,…