The International Space Station is considerably the largest artificial body in orbit. It can sometimes be seen with the naked eye from the Earth. But aside from being a space station and a habitable artificial satellite in the Earth's low orbit, it is also a cabbage patch.
On board the International Space Station, the astronauts have harvested their first ever Chinese cabbage crop. Announced on February 17, Peggy Whitson, an astronaut on board the ISS and now a part-time farmer, has successfully harvested the first crop of the Chinese cabbage patch.
The cabbages are part of The Veggie Project. Out of the many leafy greens, the Tokyo Bekana Chinese cabbage was chosen to become the test crop on board the International Space Station because of its nutritional value, growth potential, and one of the most important factors - its taste.
The International Space Station did not just grow crops for kicks. Scientists want to understand how plants respond to microgravity. It is a helpful subject when it comes to long-duration space missions, as reported by AgriLand. When it comes to longer space missions, it would be an advantage if astronauts can grow their own food. Live Mint reports that these veggie experiments can provide keys as to how plants adjust their physiology to meet the needs of growing in space, says Dr. Anna Lisa Paul, the principal investigator from the University of Florida.
In just under a month inside the International Space Station, the crop successfully grew, as reported by Hungry Forever. To make sure the harvest is completely successful, the crop has to be tested. And what better way for it to be tested than to be tasted. Whitson and the rest of the space crew on board the International Space Station are going to eat the cabbages. Of course, some salad dressing will accompany the dish.
But not all of the cabbages will be eaten. Some will be taken back to NASA. This is not the first time a crop has grown on board the International Space Station. This is the fifth vegetable grown on board.
Here is a live stream from the International Space Station in case you missed it:
