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Rice and watercress grown in space

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Research in zero gravity and in-orbit experiments on space stations is an element that is also of great interest to the Chinese community. Aboard Tiangong 1, a temporary space station awaiting construction of the new one, rice and watercress have recently been successfully grown . This is what was reported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences ( CAS )

Although the cultivation of food on earth has no more secrets, one wonders how the absence of gravity can affect the growth of plants. Being able to grow rice and watercress on the space station has shown that it is possible for astronauts to grow food for themselves even in orbit, with major repercussions on long-term space missions.

Plants can only grow in artificial environments that mimic terrestrial conditions. By comparing the flowers of the plants you can find crops that are more suitable for the space and gravity-free environment

Zheng Huiqiong, researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences

The experiment conducted on rice seeds and watercress starting on July 29 is making good progress. Rice seeds have produced stems that reach up to 30 centimeters, but cress seeds have also shown a development of shoots with up to 4 leaves at present.

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Since cress can be representative of several leafy plants, it is considered possible to grow other plants such as cabbage and canola . However, these plants will continue to grow on Tiangong 1 until December and their progress will continue to be monitored.

  • Chinese astronauts grow rice and cress in space, on the Tiangong 1 station (zmescience.com)

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