V3PO project
German students to research farming in space
The central question for Maria Koch, Raphael Schilling and David Geray is whether vegetative propagation of vegetables is possible in space to generate fresh food for space missions without having to carry large amounts of seed. BASF and NASA became interested in this question. While BASF is providing the scientific support for the project, NASA has reserved a spot for the experiment on the ISS.
“This is perhaps the most extraordinary field experiment that my team and I have ever participated in,” said Dr. Sebastian Rohrer of the Early Fungicide Biology Department of BASF’s Crop Protection division. “We’re eagerly awaiting the launch and are curious about the results.”
To date, experiments conducted in zero gravity have concentrated on the growth behavior of roots during seed germination. However, unlike seeds, cuttings have no root system. The students want to investigate if and how cuttings build roots, sprouts, and leaves without the influence of gravity. At the same time, a control experiment will be carried out on Earth, and hence under the influence of gravity. If cuttings can be used for vegetative propagation under zero-gravity conditions, it would be a significant advance in efforts to supply food grown in space for long-term space flights, such as to Mars.
To develop a suitable experimental design, the students completed an internship at the BASF Agricultural Center in Limburgerhof. Here they prepared for the experiment that will be performed at the laboratories of the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Once in space, there is a high probability that differences in temperature and humidity could lead the cuttings to become contaminated by bacteria or fungi. This is the area in which BASF is providing knowledge and products. BASF fungicides will help protect the cuttings from fungal diseases during the research at the ISS, and on the trip there and back.
In addition to BASF, other sponsors supporting V3PO include: Dreamup, mymicrogravity, the Federal Ministry for the Economy and Energy, the German Center for Air and Space Travel, the business consultancy inside, Airbus, and the Kreissparkasse Ravensburg.
For more information:
www.basf.com
