Plants in space

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Plants in space?
Image Credit NASA
2
If you could only pack five items for a trip to
Marswhat would they be?
Space Shuttle Discovery Image Credit NASA
3
The Bare EssentialsOn earth we have

• Food
• Water
• Light
• Energy
• Oxygen

• In Space, astronauts must conserve these five
  essentials

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Freeze-Dried vs. Fresh

• Freeze-Dried or Preserved Foods

• Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Image Credit USDA
Image Credit NASA
5
Benefits of Fresh Food for Scientists

• Scientists want fresh produce after eating so
  many freeze-dried foods!
• Fresh foods are the best source of many nutrients
  needed by human bodies
• Antioxidants-in many fresh fruits and
  vegetables-are believed to boost human immune
  systems

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How will fresh foods be grown in space?
Special Plant Growth Chambers Image Credit NASA

• In a Salad Machine
• Scientists hope to have it fully operational by
  2010

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Watch Scientists Eat in Space

• Go to the Check Out Some Videos link on the
  NASA website.
• http//spaceflight.nasa.gov/living/spacefood/
• Watch Video
• See how astronauts eat in space

International Space Station-Food Pantry Image
Credit NASA
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Psychological Benefits of Plants

• Plants can reduce stress
• They may be psychologically beneficial for
  astronauts during long space travel

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Psychological Benefits of Plants

• Astronauts will spend 15-20 minutes a day working
  with plants during long spaceflights.

• Plants have shown to be good for the body and mind

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Additional Benefits

• Plants can consume some of the Carbon Dioxide CO2
  produced by people aboard the space vehicle
• Plants will generate small amounts of oxygen
  needed for people to breathe
• This is done through Photosynthesis

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PhotosynthesisPutting Together with Light

• This is the process by which plants use the
  energy from sunlight to produce sugar.
• Photosynthesis takes place in the leaves of the
  plant

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Photosynthesishow it works
Image Credit techalive.mtu.edu/.../images/Photosy
nthesis.jpg
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The Photosynthesis Equation

• 6 CO2 6 H2O 6 C6H12O2 6 O2

Carbon Dioxide
Water
Oxygen
Sugar (Glucose)
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A Natural Water Cleaner?

• Plants can be grown in relatively dirty water
  and release purified water from their leaves
• This is done through the process of Transpiration

Image Credit www.hydrology.uni-freiburg.de/.../ve
rdunst.jpg
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Transpiration

• The process by which plants take in water through
  the roots and release it through the leaves

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Transpiration

• With plants on long-term space missions, gray
  water can be recycled using transpiration
• Gray water is non-toilet waster water
• Examples are
• Shower water
• Hand wash water
• Clothes water

Closed Ecological Life Support System Image
Credit NASA
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Why take plants to space?Lets Recap

• Plant produce many nutrients needed for the human
  body

Image Credit NASA
18
Plants may be psychologically beneficial to
astronauts
Image Credit NASA
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Through Photosynthesis plants can consume some
CO2 produced by people and generate oxygen
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Transpiration will allow astronauts to recycle
some of their gray water
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Plants in Space?

• Plants provide many of the five essentials human
  will need on long spaceflights!