Greenhouses in space

Are greenhouses key to NASA's planned trip to Mars in 2030? According to one study, they should be.

Using research conducted by a team at the German Aerospace Center and published in "Acta Astronautica," National Geographic broke down the five benefits of greenhouses in space: fresh food, stress relief, visual landscape, air quality, and a way to mark the passage of time.

When most people think about space food they think of the shiny snack packs they opened in grade school or at space camp, or maybe of Dippin Dots ice cream (labelled the "Ice Cream of the Future"). While developments in preservatives have allowed for a more varied palette, getting fresh fruits and veggies aboard a space craft is still incredibly difficult.

Installing fully functional greenhouses would give astronauts the chance to cultivate their own gardens, a stress relief according to the study, add some color to life within the space shuttle, improve the recycled air quality, and better mark the passage of time, something many astronauts struggle with.

For more information and all the details, go to National Geographic's website.

Photo: Courtesy of NASA