Antarctic Veggies: Practice For Growing Plants On Other Planets
We may cultivate crops in space one day, so scientists are running an Antarctic greenhouse to prepare. They've harvested the first crop, but like any space mission, it's a bit tricky.
Last Christmas, Matthew Bamsey was in Antarctica with a giant item on his wish list.
As a systems engineer at the German Aerospace Center, Bamsey was hoping the greenhouse he had helped design would arrive at Neumayer Station III, Antarctica, around Dec. 25. His gift was a bit late — icy weather delayed the greenhouse's arrival until Jan. 3, but he didn't mind. After three years of preparation, it was fine that it got there eventually.
Now, the greenhouse project, called EDEN ISS, is fully operational. Bamsey's colleagues in Antarctica harvested their first salads last week.
And while growing greens
