NASA Wants to Grow Bigger Plants for Astros.

• Position: SPACE STATION - Brief article

In an effort to increase the ability to provide astronauts nutrients on long-duration missions, NASA is moving forward with its Veg-PONDS-02 experiment to grow larger plants in space.

The present method uses seed bags, referred to as pillows, that astronauts push water into with a syringe. However, this makes it difficult to grow certain types of "pick and eat" crops beyond lettuce varieties. Crops like tomatoes use a large amount of water, and pillows do not have enough holding capacity to support them.

As an alternative to the pillows, 12 passive orbital nutrient delivery system (PONDS) plant growth units are being put through their paces. The PONDS units are less expensive to produce, have more water-holding capacity, provide a greater space for root growth, and are a completely passive system--meaning PONDS can provide air and water to crops without extra power.

"There comes a point where you have longer and longer duration missions, and you reach a cost benefit point where it makes sense to grow your own food," says Howard Levine, chief scientist of NASA's Utilization and Life Sciences...