LA PRIMERA FLOR FUERA DE LA TIERRA ▲ First Flower Grown in Space Station's Veggie Facility | NASA

First Flower Grown in Space Station's Veggie Facility | NASA

First Flower Grown in Space Station's Veggie Facility

On Jan. 16, 2016, Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly shared photographs of a blooming zinnia flower in the Veggie plant growth system aboard the International Space Station. Kelly wrote, "Yes, there are other life forms in space! #SpaceFlower #YearInSpace"

This flowering crop experiment began on Nov. 16, 2015, when NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren activated the Veggie system and its rooting "pillows" containing zinnia seeds. The challenging process of growing the zinnias provided an exceptional opportunity for scientists back on Earth to better understand how plants grow in microgravity, and for astronauts to practice doing what they’ll be tasked with on a deep space mission: autonomous gardening. In late December, Kelly found that the plants "weren't looking too good," and told the ground team, “You know, I think if we’re going to Mars, and we were growing stuff, we would be responsible for deciding when the stuff needed water. Kind of like in my backyard, I look at it and say ‘Oh, maybe I should water the grass today.’ I think this is how this should be handled.”

The Veggie team on Earth created what was dubbed “The Zinnia Care Guide for the On-Orbit Gardener,” and gave basic guidelines for care while putting judgment capabilities into the hands of the astronaut who had the plants right in front of him. Rather than pages and pages of detailed procedures that most science operations follow, the care guide was a one-page, streamlined resource to support Kelly as an autonomous gardener. Soon, the flowers were on the rebound, and on Jan. 12, pictures showed the first peeks of petals beginning to sprout on a few buds.

Image Credit: NASA

Last Updated: Jan. 19, 2016

Editor: Sarah Loff

Zinnia Flowers Starting to Grow on the International Space Station

Zinnia flowers are starting to grow in the International Space Station's Veggie facility as part of the VEG-01 investigation. Veggie provides lighting and nutrient supply for plants in the form of a low-cost growth chamber and planting "pillows” to provide nutrients for the root system. These plants appear larger than their ground-based counterparts and scientists expect buds to form on the larger plants soon.

The Veggie facility supports a variety of plant species that can be cultivated for educational outreach, fresh food and even recreation for crew members on long-duration missions. Previously, the facility has grown lettuce -- which was consumed by the crew earlier this year -- and now investigators are attempting to grow Zinnia flowers. Understanding how flowering plants grow in microgravity can be applied to growing other edible flowering plants, such as tomatoes.

Image Credit: NASA

Last Updated: Dec. 23, 2015

Editor: Sarah Loff

el dispensador dice:
es plena la evidencia,
viajar por el espacio no es ciencia,
sino cuestión de sapiencia,
con una alta dosis de consciencia...
lo demás en el alma se concentra,
y puedes viajar a discreción,
llevando tu lugar a una estrella,
o el espíritu a un planeta...
todo es oportuno según se vea,
ética,
lógica,
filosofía,
cosmogonía que aguarda,
como flor en el paraíso de quien sea... 

y allí está la evidencia...

ella florece...
mientras el humanismo se apaga,
y la Tierra sin existencias se queda...

recuerda,
entonces recuerda,
todo lo denso aquieta,
mientras que la mochila inmoviliza,
hasta que la estupidez domina,
dando espacio a otros viajeros,
que sin que nadie lo aprecie,
llegan...

cuando lo que abunda es soberbia,
lo que falta en demasía...
es la humildad del que piensa.
ENERO 20, 2016.-