The researchers stationed in Antarctica have collected the first crop of landless-grown vegetables, which reached maturity in a greenhouse without natural light and without pesticides, as part of an experiment designed to allow astronauts to harvest fresh food on orbital stations or during manned missions on the Moon and on Mars.
Salads, cucumbers, and radishes have been harvest
The German scientists stationed at the Neumayer III station in Antarctica picked up 3.6 kilos of salads, 18 cucumbers and 70 radishes that grew inside a sophisticated greenhouse while the thermometers were registering -20 degrees Celsius outside.
German officials admitted that the researchers are now hoping to produce between four and five kilos of fruits and vegetables per week, by May.
Therefore, the researchers produced healthy vegetables which have grown inside a special greenhouse, without the need for natural light and pesticides, which make the whole process of great interest for space agencies.
The Germans study can help space agencies with the future orbital or manned mission on other planets
Recently, many space agencies, including NASA and the Russian space agency, around the Earth are planning future manned mission on the Moon and on Mars and, consequently, they are very keen to discover new methods to assure all that is needed for a normal life for the astronauts, which includes fruits and vegetable cultivation.
NASA had already managed to grow leafy vegetables on the International Space Station, but the German project aims to produce a variety of vegetables that could one day be harvested on the Moon or on Mars, with no problems whatsoever.
In conclusion, the researchers stationed at the Neumayer III station in Antarctica have managed to grow vegetables in a greenhouse, without earth, natural light, and pesticides, as a part of an experiment that is designed to help astronauts during the future manned missions on the Moon and on Mars.
