Science never ceases to amaze. The latest experiment conducted in orbit concerns agriculture and tells us that vegetables, in this specific case lettuce, can also be grown in space, with excellent results: absolutely edible plants come out that are also rich in nutrients, exactly like those grown on Earth. It was discovered by a team of biologists from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, who analyzed three samples of red romaine lettuce, a very healthy, sweet and crunchy variety. The lettuce in question had been grown from scratch in a small greenhouse on the International Space Station, which circles our planet at an average distance of over 400 km.
“We thought that plants grown in zero gravity and with increased exposure to radiation somehow adapted, perhaps changing the nutrient content,” said expert Gioia Massa. But no. Compared with similar lettuce growing on Earth at the same time, the "space" one was almost identical in its characteristics. The only difference noted is that those arriving from the ISS host more bacteria: "But we expected it - adds Massa - because they grew up in a closed environment, in close contact with people".
The proof that it can also be cultivated in orbit, as well as fascinating in itself, also assumes considerable importance for the astronauts of the future, those who will probably try to reach Mars or who will be called to work on asteroids or in lunar colonies, therefore far away from Earth for months if not years. They will therefore be able to count on fresh food, grown locally along the way. And not just on red romaine lettuces, of course, so much so now experimentation is expanding to plants that are more valuable from a nutritional point of view, such as cabbage or tomatoes.
