Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are trying to grow spicy peppers in space for the first time. NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough has put 48 chili pepper seeds in the ISS’ Advanced Planet Habitat (APH). The goal is to see its growth in the coming months and then harvest them to determine if it can be added to the ISS menu.
Although many vegetables have been grown on the ISS in the past, growing chili peppers is a more complex process. It is because chili peppers take longer to grow compared to other vegetables, making them more challenging to nurture.
Could come in handy during Mars missions
“It is one of the most complex plant experiments on the station to date because of the long germination and growing times,” explained Matt Romeyn, principal investigator for Plant Habitat-04. “We have previously tested flowering to increase the chance for a successful harvest because astronauts will have to pollinate the peppers to grow fruit.”
The aim of the experiment is not just to see whether vegetables can grow in space but also to determine whether this method can be used during long-duration missions like a crewed mission to Mars to fulfill the food needs of the astronauts.
Psychological advantages of growing vegetables
Besides, there is also a psychological benefit for astronauts when they interact with living plants and get to consume fresh food they have worked hard to nurture.
“Growing colorful vegetables in space can have long-term benefits for physical and psychological health,” Romeyn said. “We are discovering that growing plants and vegetables with colors and smells help to improve astronauts’ well-being.”
Speaking of the spiciness of the chili peppers, it could be different from the peppers grown on Earth. The type of pepper used for the experiment is the NuMex ‘Española Improved’ pepper. It is a hybrid Hatch pepper, but it’s difficult to determine how spicy the peppers grown in space would be, as that depends on a slew of factors.
