Russia to grow 'industrial scale' veggies in space

Zero-G Greenhouse

Russia has big plans in store for its Nauka module, which recently docked with — and then uncontrollably spun — the entire International Space Station.

Roscosmos' orbital lab module will eventually house a sizable greenhouse capable of growing a number of different plants, according to state news agency TASS, an exciting experiment that could have implications for humanity's deep space travel plans in the future.

Space Cabbage

In Russia's telling, the project will be a huge undertaking.

"The Vitacycle-T experiment envisages creating a greenhouse to grow plants on an industrial scale," Yuri Smirnov, head of Russia's Biomedical Laboratory at the Institute of Biomedical Problems, told TASS.

The snail-shaped greenhouse will eventually make its way to the ISS during a future launch.

"A cosmonaut will plant a strip with seeds in the greenhouse at certain intervals," Smirnov explained. "He will then spin a drum and lay the next strip after a certain time. The cosmonauts will be able to gather a harvest at specific periods."

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Image by wirestock on Freepik

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