The astronauts, who harvested the pepper seeds they planted 4 months later, tested the flavors of the peppers they grew at the "taco" party they organized.
Focusing on long missions to the Moon and Mars, NASA is working on ways to keep astronauts' mental activity at a high level by adding fresh food containing essential nutrients to the astronauts' diets.
Matt Romeyn , a plant scientist at NASA, said that "we have discovered that growing colorful vegetables in space will have long-term benefits for physical and psychological health, and that growing plants and vegetables with colors and scents helps improve the health of astronauts."
Romeyn also noted that this experiment was one of the most complex plant experiments to date at the station, due to the long germination and growth times in peppers.
Elizabeth Howell of Space.com; He reported that radishes and different types of lettuce have been grown on the International Space Station (ISS) before, but this is the first time they have grown peppers, which poses a new challenge.
Pepper, which requires very little maintenance in its cultivation, is also a great source of nutrients and vitamins, and can be consumed raw or cooked. Biologists at Kennedy Space Center spent two years choosing the perfect pepper variety.
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For this galactic experiment, the scientists chose the NuMex 'Española Enhanced' pepper variety, a hybrid variety developed at New Mexico State University.
Delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) by a carrier in June, 48 pepper seeds were planted by astronauts in a microwave-sized grow room called the Advanced Plant Habitat. (Advanced Plant Habitat, one of three growing environments on the International Space Station (ISS))
Lighting, irrigation, and air circulation in the grow room are constantly controlled by a team at Kennedy Space Center.
The astronauts who harvested the peppers they grew gave positive feedback on the taste and spiciness of the peppers.
"To successfully send humans to Mars and bring them back to Earth, we will need not only the most nutritious foods, but also the tastiest ones," said LaShelle Spencer, a plant scientist at NASA. said.