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Astronauts Grow Chili for the First Time on the International Space Station

Metropolis.id Astronauts on the International Space Station, for the first time conducted an experiment to grow chili.

The experiment in growing chili peppers has been called one of the longest and most challenging plant experiments in the orbital laboratory.

The red and green chili seeds to be planted arrived on the ISS last June and were sent via SpaceX’s commercial supply service mission.

Quotes CNN, Monday (7/19/2021) NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, who previously helped grow red romaine lettuce, then introduced 48 chili seeds into the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) on July 12.

APH is the largest plant growth facility on the ISS that is the size of a kitchen oven. This is where NASA astronauts carry out various experiments, including growing chili peppers inside the space station.

With 180 sensors and controls for monitoring, allows experiments to be controlled partially from the Kennedy Space Center.

This can also ease the work of astronauts when caring for plants.

“This is the first time NASA astronauts have grown chili plants on the ISS (International Space Station) from seed to maturity,” NASA said in a news release.

Lead researcher Matt Romeyn called this experiment one of the most complex plant experiments on the ISS to date due to its long germination and growth times.

“We have previously tested flowering to increase the chances of a successful harvest because astronauts have to pollinate chili peppers to grow fruit,” he said.

Researchers themselves spent two years evaluating more than a dozen varieties of chili before finding a suitable one, namely the NuMex chili from the Hatch chili hybrid from New Mexico.

Previously, astronauts had harvested vegetables such as lettuce and radishes.

So that by experimenting with growing chili peppers, it will increase the variety of astronauts’ food while on duty in space.

Romeyn said ISS crew members may prefer spicy or spiced food.

This is because they can temporarily lose their sense of taste or smell after being in a microgravity environment.

These chilies will be ready for harvest in about three and a half months. After tasting some, the ISS crew plans to send the rest to Earth for analysis.

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