NASA is not abandoning the idea of human travel to Mars. And despite the fact that all these plans are still very shaky, specialists continue to work hard on every detail. So the big problem is provisioning. If you stock up on food for two and a half years in the form of dry freezing, then this will take up too much space on the ship, while the bill goes for every gram.
So, scientists came up with the idea to grow some fruits and vegetables right on board the ship. The main thing is that these plants can exist in specific conditions. Now tests are being carried out in microgravity bathyscaphes. Experts constantly conduct experiments, changing temperature and lighting, as well as the habitat. In addition, experts are trying to determine which plants can be grown with a minimum soil content, using only hydroponics or aeroponics. Difficulties arise with watering, since in conditions of low gravity, the liquid collects into balls.
So far, NASA has managed to sprout a red salad on clay pillows. However, this is unlikely to be enough to provide astronauts with adequate nutrition. Independent experts note that this is extremely important research, since being able to grow food in space or on any other planet is knowledge that may soon become a necessity for many.
