Plants and Spaceflight

Everything you need to know about plants in space.

Stressors of Spaceflight

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The Basics of Plants in Space

Learn about the basics of plants in space.

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Spaceflight Stress

What factors impact plants in space?

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Gravitropism

Plants sense and respond to gravity.

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Root Challenges in Space

In microgravity, plant roots tend to skew.

Caring for Plants in Space

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Watering Plants in Space

Fluid dynamics can pose challenges when watering plants in space.

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Optimal Lighting for Plants in Space

Efficiency is the name of the game- high-energy blue and red LED lights are typically used to grow plants in space.

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Why Not Use Sunlight?

Plants need light to live and grow, and it takes a lot of energy to grow plants using man-made light fixtures. So why don’t we use sunlight instead?

Picture of Delaying Germination of Seeds Using Far-Red Light

Delaying Germination of Seeds Using Far-Red Light

Plants need light to live and grow, and it takes a lot of energy to grow plants using man-made light fixtures. So why don’t we use sunlight instead?

Growing Plants on other Planets

Picture of Martian 'Soil'

Martian 'Soil'

Martian regolith is not great for growing plants.

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Regolith Simulant

Can we grow plants using 'soil' (regolith) from other planets?

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NASA Target Crops

What kind of plants do we want to grow in space?

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Astrobotany and Climate Change

How astrobotany research can support the fight against climate change.