STEMonstrations: Photosynthesis | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Astronaut Sultan Alneyadi explains the importance of growing food in space and shares insights from the plant facilities on the International Space Station.

Key Insights

• 👾 Growing food in space is crucial for future deep space missions.
• 😋 Photosynthesis is the process by which plants produce their own food and oxygen.
• 🌱 The International Space Station has plant facilities like Veggie and Advanced Plant Habitat.
• 🙂 Different light settings and fertilizer are being studied to understand their impact on plant growth.
• 👾 The study of growing plants in space helps scientists learn about psychological and behavioral impacts.
• 💦 Water from the main water inputs and individual inserts is used to feed the plants.
• 👾 Careful monitoring and maintenance are required to ensure plant health in space.

Transcript

Hello, my name is Sultan Alneyadi, and I'm an astronaut living and working onboard the International Space Station. We are currently orbiting 250 miles above Earth's surface. But in the not so distant future, we'll be sending astronauts on missions that go deeper in space than ever before. To do that, we need to understand how to grow our own food ... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: How do plants in space obtain energy?

Plants in space obtain energy through photosynthesis, where light energy from the sun is used to convert water and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen.

Q: What plants have been successfully grown on the International Space Station?

The International Space Station has grown lettuce, Chinese cabbage, mizuna mustard, red Russian kale, zinnia flowers, radish, hatch chili peppers, and red robin dwarf tomato plants.

Q: Why is studying plant growth in space significant?

Studying plant growth in space helps scientists learn how to grow food for long-duration missions like those to the Moon and Mars, and also allows for the study of psychological and behavioral impacts of growing plants in space.

Q: How do astronauts take care of plants in space?

Astronauts monitor the plant habitat, clean as needed, monitor microbial growth, provide water through individual inserts, and control air circulation using fans.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Astronaut Sultan Alneyadi discusses the need to understand how to grow food in space for future deep space missions.

• Plants, algae, and cyanobacteria synthesize their own food through photosynthesis, using light, water, and carbon dioxide.

• The International Space Station has plant facilities, including Veggie and Advanced Plant Habitat, where various plants have been successfully grown and studied.