Efforts to plant cultivation in space have been on the rise, driven by humanity’s preparations for upcoming long-duration space missions. A team of scientists in Turkey is gearing up to join these endeavors.
Take NASA, for instance, which is exploring methods to supply astronauts with nutrition in a durable and readily absorbed format – freshly grown fruits and vegetables. The obstacle lies in accomplishing this within an enclosed setting devoid of sunlight and Earth’s gravitational pull.
Plant cultivation in space
A recent space-based study called “Investigation of CRISPR Gene Editing Efficiency in Plants under Microgravity Conditions” seeks to investigate how genetic modifications impact plants in a microgravity environment. The goal of the study is to offer insights into the prospects of sustainable agriculture beyond our planet.
The “Arabidopsis thaliana” plant has been selected as the model organism for this project because of its rapid germination cycle and widespread use in scientific research.
An experiment is prepared for space-based tests. (AA photo)
The scientists are undertaking a pioneering analysis that will pave the way for future research aimed at enhancing plant health through genetic interventions.
“Can this analysis be done under microgravity? Can this application be done? We are looking for answers to these questions,” Tugce Celayir, a PhD student from Istanbul’s Yildiz Technical University told Anadolu.
The project is scheduled to be departed for the International Space Station (ISS) as part of Turkey’s first manned space mission that will take place in the second half of 2023.
The first Turkish astronaut will carry out a total of 13 scientific experiments, including plant cultivation in space, aboard the ISS for seven to ten days. The Turkish Space Agency and the country’s space technologies research institute TUBITAK have partnered on 13 experiments.
A groundbreaking genetic investigation
This study is groundbreaking, as it represents the inaugural endeavor to genetically intervene in plant species under space conditions.
When discussing the prospect of future Mars colonies, it becomes crucial to establish an ecosystem capable of sustaining astronauts during extended space missions. Equally important is ensuring the well-being of the plants within this ecosystem.
“After this study, plants that can be a food source in the future can also be used to create an artificial ecosystem and to provide an oxygen source within this ecosystem,” Celayir said.
As plans for extended missions to the Moon and Mars take shape, a pivotal consideration is devising methods to provide nourishment to crews throughout their missions that could take weeks, and even years in space.
Here on Earth, researchers are actively investigating this concept by conducting experiments with diverse crops and equipment to determine its feasibility.
