Scientists are using 'Martian gardens' to find which are the best plants that astronauts could grow during future manned missions.
One major challenge for human journey to Mars will be determining how to pack enough food for astronauts for these kinds of extended missions.
Simulated "Martian gardens," developed at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre and the Florida Tech Buzz Aldrin Space Institute, are helping researchers overcome food production challenges associated with Mars' barren landscape.
Farming on the red planet is much different from growing crops on Earth. Martian soil consists of crushed volcanic rock with no organic material, making it nearly impossible for plant life to survive, NASA said.
"We are using advances in science to learn about increasing plant production to supplement astronauts' diets," said Trent Smith, project manager for the Vegetable Production System (Veggie) experiment at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre.
(With agency input)
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