The Enea Casaccia Research Center in Rome, funded by the Italian Space Agency and coordinated by the Federico II University of Naples, Consiglio Nazionale di Ricerca and the University of Rome Tor Vergata, has developed a hi-tech container designed for growing micro-ortages on the Moon and Mars. Thanks to this module, astronauts who would face long space missions will be able to tap into a system for producing fresh, nutrient-rich food. Designed for the health of astronauts, who usually sustain themselves on freeze-dried foods, the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables can provide them with a balanced diet needed to counteract the effects of altered gravity and cosmic radiation, which are negative for human health.
The cultivation container was made to house within it an irrigation system and an LED lighting system controlled through “smart” instruments. These enable real-time monitoring and data collection, on the growth and health status of the plants on environmental parameters such as humidity, temperature and CO2 concentration.
As Enea researcher Luca Nardi, who participated in the project, points out, “pursuing research on growing fresh food for space is crucial both to improve the quality of life for astronauts and to contribute to mission sustainability by reducing dependence on constant supplies from Earth.” He adds that, “The set of technologies developed will make it possible to maximize the use of water, fertilizer and energy, which are limited in space, while optimizing production yields, quality and food safety, to address the challenges associated with prolonged stay in space and prepare humanity for future exploration beyond low Earth orbit.”
