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Astronauts Will Grow Mushrooms In Space For The First Time. Experiment May Help In Food Production And Structures On The Moon And Mars. See How It Might Work
In April, an unusual space mission promises to make history. Aboard SpaceX’s Dragon capsule, astronaut Eric Philips will carry out a groundbreaking experiment: growing oyster mushrooms in space. The goal is to test whether these fungi can grow in microgravity, which could represent an important advancement for the sustainable food supply of astronauts.
The experiment is led by the Australian company FOODiQ Global. Named Mission MushVroom, the mission aims to prove that it is possible to grow oyster mushrooms outside of Earth. This paves the way for future plantations on bases on the Moon or even Mars.
According to Dr. Flávia Fayet-Moore, CEO of FOODiQ, oyster mushrooms have several advantages. “They double in size every day. They don’t require many inputs: they don’t need special fertilizers, they don’t need a lot of water,” she told The Guardian.
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Nutritious Fungus In Hostile Environment
Oyster mushrooms are rich in vitamin D, potassium, selenium, and copper. These nutrients are typically obtained from a variety of foods, such as nuts and vegetables.
NASA considers mushrooms ideal for cultivation in space. They are easy to plant, harvest, and consume, especially in places where food processing is not feasible.
While other tests with fungi have been conducted in space, this will be the first attempt to cultivate the fruiting bodies of mushrooms, which are the edible part.
Last year, a team from Swinburne University sent mycelium — root-like structures of fungi — to the International Space Station. However, the limited space prevented the mushrooms from forming completely.
Now, in the Fram2 mission, expectations are different. Launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, this mission aims to test the viability of mushroom cultivation in space more effectively.
Growth In Real Time
During the flight, Eric Philips will be responsible for observing the mushrooms. He will monitor the growth, record any contamination, and check the overall conditions of the experiment.
When the fungi return to Earth, they will undergo detailed analyses to understand how microgravity affected their development and nutritional value.
The expectation is that the mushrooms will grow quickly. Their cycle is about 30 days, much shorter than some plants, which can take up to 100 days to develop. This represents an advantage for long space missions, which face cargo and cost limitations.
“The reason we are researching this is really to create a sustainable, nutritious, and delicious food supply for exploration missions to the Moon and Mars,” Fayet-Moore explained to ABC.
Mushrooms In Space: Effects Also On Earth
But the benefits go beyond space. Professor Jenny Mortimer from the University of Adelaide states that the results could have a direct impact on terrestrial agriculture. According to her, these studies help understand how to produce food in extreme environments — something beneficial here as well.
“Mushrooms are a really critical part of the thinking about this entire circular system of how we feed and sustain people in the long term,” Mortimer said.
Other similar experiments are already being planned. NASA, for example, intends to send water lentils and other plants to the Moon in the Artemis III mission, scheduled for 2027. The goal is to evaluate how these organisms react to radiation, microgravity, and other extreme conditions.
These missions will help scientists answer important questions: whether plants can grow well on the Moon or Mars, and whether lessons from space can improve cultivation on Earth.
Meanwhile, all eyes are on the Fram2 mission. If the mushrooms grow as expected, the team will bring back a symbolic harvest, but one full of meaning. A small crop that could represent a significant step for the future of food in space.
With information from ZME Science.
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