Lighting Up Growth in the ISS Veggie Plant System

The Veggie Plant Growth System, commonly referred to as “Veggie”, is a plant growth chamber on the International Space Station (ISS) designed to facilitate the growth of plants in microgravity. Developed by NASA, Veggie aims to provide astronauts with fresh and sustainable food while studying plant biology in space. NASA Johnson: Lettuce Look at Veggie

Lighting is a vital factor for photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert light into chemical energy to fuel their growth. On Earth, plants receive this light primarily from the sun. However, in the microgravity environment of the ISS, artificial lighting must be used to simulate sunlight. With that, the Veggie system employs light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to provide the necessary light spectrum for plant growth.

Veggie uses a combination of red, blue, and green LEDs, each serving a specific function in plant growth. Red LEDs (630 nm) are vital for photosynthesis and promote flowering and fruiting. Blue LEDs (455 nm) support vegetative growth, enhancing leaf development and plant structure. Green LEDs (530 nm), mostly reflected by plants, penetrate deeper into the canopy which aids growth in lower leaves and overall plant health.

The type of light used can influence a plant’s size, nutritional value, microbial presence, and flavor. Red and blue light are essential for plant growth. Experiments on the space station have demonstrated that plants in space thrive under light conditions similar to those on Earth. Although green light isn’t essential for plant growth, it’s included in growth systems to make the plants appear more like their Earth-grown counterparts.

NASA’s success with using specific light spectra to grow plants in space has inspired other agricultural innovations. NutriHydro has adopted this technology by using red and blue light to grow their lettuces. They also acknowledged the efficacy of these specific light spectrums and have extended their product line to include specialized grow lights. This expansion allows both consumers and farmers to access advanced plant growth techniques.

NASA continues to refine the Veggie system, exploring new lighting technologies and strategies to improve plant growth in space further. Future missions, including those to the Moon and Mars, will benefit from these advancements, as sustainable food production will be critical for long-duration space exploration. 

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References:

Growing plants in space – NASA. (2023). NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/exploration-research-and-technology/growing-plants-in-space/#:~:text=Veggie’s%20purpose%20is%20to%20help,and%20typically%20holds%20six%20plants. 

Massa, G. D., Newsham, G., Hummerick, M. E., Morrow, R. C., & Wheeler, R. M. (2017). Plant pillow preparation for the veggie plant growth system on the International Space Station. Gravitational and Space Research, 5(1), 24–34. https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2017-0002 

Massa, G., Wheeler, R., Morrow, R., & Levine, H. (2016). Growth chambers on the International Space Station for large plants. Acta Horticulturae, 1134, 215–222. https://doi.org/10.17660/actahortic.2016.1134.29 

Murad, M. A., Razi, K., Jeong, B. R., Samy, P. M. A., & Muneer, S. (2021). Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) as Agricultural lighting: Impact and its potential on improving physiology, flowering, and secondary metabolites of crops. Sustainability, 13(4), 1985. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041985