In September 2022, cosmonauts on the Shenzhou-14 mission became the first Chinese crew to eat vegetables they had grown in orbit. The mission completed full growth cycles for crops, including wheat and dwarf tomatoes. It also achieved the first full life-cycle cultivation of rice in space, from seed to seed.
Subsequent crews have continued to expand the range of crops grown aboard the station, including lettuce varieties and cherry tomatoes. More recently, astronauts have experimented with sweet potatoes, with samples returned to Earth for further study.
Space-based plant cultivation is aimed at supporting long-duration missions by providing food and aiding oxygen and water recycling, while advancing research for deep-space exploration. Microgravity may also alter plant growth cycles, offering insights into plant biology and potential applications on Earth.
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 