Tupperware, NASA team to grow plants in space – Chron.com

On Jan. 16, 2016, Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly shared photographs of a blooming zinnia flower in the Veggie plant growth system aboard the International Space Station. NASA has more recently teamed up with Tupperware Brands Corp. to improve its system for growing plants. less On Jan. 16, 2016, Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly shared photographs of a blooming zinnia flower in the Veggie plant growth system aboard the International Space Station. NASA has more recently teamed up ... more Photo: handout web Astronauts on the International Space Station sampled their harvest of a crop of "Outredgeous" red romaine lettuce from the Veggie plant growth system that tests hardware for growing vegetables and other plants in space. NASA has more recently teamed up with Tupperware Brands Corp. to improve its system for growing plants. less Astronauts on the International Space Station sampled their harvest of a crop of "Outredgeous" red romaine lettuce from the Veggie plant growth system that tests hardware for growing vegetables and other plants ... more Photo: NASA

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Life aboard theInternational Space Station

The International Space Station was launched in November 1998, and the first crew arrived on Nov. 2, 2000. People have lived on the space station ever since.

Here are some great photos inside and outside the largest artificial body in Earth's orbit...

Life aboard theInternational Space Station

The International Space Station was launched in November 1998, and the first crew arrived on Nov. 2, 2000. People have lived on the space station ever since.

Here

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Tupperware, NASA team to grow plants in space

Tupperware Brands Corp. is helping NASA improve its system for growing plants aboard the International Space Station.

Astronauts have been growing a variety of flowers and leafy vegetables in the space station's Vegetable Production System since 2014. But to reduce the frequency with which astronauts must water plants, Howard Levine and his colleagues at the NASA Kennedy Space Center began exploring new designs for the component that holds the roots of the plants, according to a news release.

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They created a semi-hydroponic design, and Tupperware is helping to further develop and manufacture it. Tupperware has teamed with Techshot, a commercial space company, to create the device.

Up to six of the new units can be installed in the Vegetable Production System at one time. Like the so-called "plant pillows" they will replace, the devices would be used once and then discarded after the plants are grown and harvested.

Initial units are expected to launch to the space station in the third and fourth quarters of 2018 aboard two flights of the commercial unmanned SpaceX Cargo Dragon spacecraft.

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Tupperware, NASA team to grow plants in space - Chron.com