• Question: What is going to change on the ISS if Tim fully succeeds in his seeds mission?

    Asked by Jake_Kiddell to Tom, COLFlight, Jon, Beth, Anne on 8 Oct 2015. This question was also asked by 120trn28, mairrax.
    • Photo: Beth Healey

      Beth Healey answered on 8 Oct 2015:

      I think that the seeds mission is such an interesting project because if we find that we are able to grow plants in space then we can be self sufficient for food on long duration spaceflight missions, which can help us travel further!

      Anne is the expert on the seeds mission though so I will let her answer you in full!

      I think we should do the seeds project here at Concordia too! I haven’t seen any fresh fruit or vegetables since February!! Would love an apple right now! 😉

    • Photo: Anne Visscher

      Anne Visscher answered on 8 Oct 2015:

      Hi Jake_Kiddell,

      Two kilograms of rocket (salad) seeds will fly inside the ISS for several months before they will travel back to Earth. They will then be sent to schools where pupils will grow them next to rocket seeds that have not been on the ISS. If the rocket plants grown from space seeds grow the same as the rocket plants grown from seeds that have stayed on Earth, then it means that the astronauts on the ISS can safely use seeds on the ISS to grow salads in space: even if the seeds have been on the ISS for a long time.
      Maybe soon they will be eating rocket salad! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-33854240

      Anne

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