China grows rice and vegetables on the Tiangong space station

China is gradually becoming an important player in space. It regularly carries out experiments in orbit and uses its own space station the Tiangong 1. The Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) confirms that astronauts aboard their Space Station have successfully grown rice and vegetables. China wants its astronauts to enjoy meals and have access to fresh food. Growing crops in space is totally different from growing crops on Earth. China conducted its experiments with thale cress and rice in an environment of zero gravity. The astronauts proved that it is possible to grow crops in space, far away from Earth. This will have massive implications for long-term exploration missions. China successfully grows rice and vegetables on the Tiangong space station. A researcher at the CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences said - “Crops can only be grown in artificial environments that mimic Earth-like conditions. By comparing plant flowers, we can find crops more adapted to space and microgravity environments.”

The Chinese experiment began on July 29. That is when the astronauts planted the seeds of thal cress and rice on their space station. The team does not have any plan to bring the plants back home until the end of the year. Reports from the CAS mention about satisfactory progress with the plants in the short period since the beginning of the experiment. The stems of the rice seeds have grown 5 to 30 centimeters in length. Thal cress seeds have also sprouted with up to four leaves. This plant represents one specimen of a vegetable. Researchers are excited with the results and believe other crops like rapeseed, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts can successfully develop in space. Two years ago, a Chinese probe took rice seeds to the moon and back. They want to use these to grow new varieties of the staple grain on Earth. Incidentally, the International Space Station have already grown pepper, broccoli and flowers in space.

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