'Martian' Redux? NASA Plants Lettuce On ISS

NASA has planted lettuce on the International Space Station to learn how to grow fresh food in space which may help prepare astronauts for future manned mission to Mars. Astronaut Shane Kimbrough initiated the Veg-03 experiment, one of his first science assignments, and has planted the third on orbit crop of red romaine lettuce. Operations were little slower than expected, but all plant pillows were successfully primed for the first time in Veg series. Plant pillows are small pouches containing a growth medium, fertilizer and seeds. The Veg-03 crop will be the team’s first on-orbit attempt at a new, repetitive harvest technique termed ‘Cut-and-Come-Again’. Once the plants are four weeks old, a selection of leaves can be harvested for a bit of fresh lettuce.