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Plant Growth Research for Future Food Production - Seed Microbiome ProjectHumanity is currently on the precipice of a new era: one where human civilization is no longer bound to the confines of a single planet. Now, organizations like the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have extended their areas of research and are beginning to focus not just on getting humans into space, but also to keep them safe, healthy, and sane. This focus falls under the Human Research Program (HRP). A focus of this program is "dedicated to discovering the best methods and technologies to support safe, productive human space travel" [1]. For "safe and productive space travel" to occur, astronauts must have proper nutrition [1]. While sending up large amounts of dried and packaged food with every shuttle might work fairly well in the short term, when only a few people need to be fed, it will not be sustainable, especially as NASA looks toward longer space journeys beyond the Earth's orbit. Research into this area falls under Advanced Life Support (ALS), whose mission is to develop regenerative life support systems to support future NASA long-duration missions [2]. This would involve growing crops in space to supplement astronaut diets [2]. An important, yet often overlooked, part of growing crops in any environment is the microbial organisms that inhabit the plants' microbiomes. The Seed Microbiome Project aims to investigate the microbial presence throughout the life stages of three crops, Mizuna Mustard, 'Outredgeous' Red Romaine Lettuce, and 'Red Robin' Tomato, that have either been or will be grown on the ISS.
Document ID
20180005356
Acquisition Source
Kennedy Space Center
Document Type
Other
Authors
Birtell, Eva
(Wisconsin Univ. Platteville, WI, United States)
Date Acquired
September 17, 2018
Publication Date
June 21, 2018
Subject Category
Life Sciences (General)
Report/Patent Number
KSC-E-DAA-TN58238
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNX13AJ45A
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
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