Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Takenaka Corporation, Kirin Holdings, Chiba University, and Tokyo University of Science have succeeded in cultivating lettuce at the Japanese Experiment Module on the International Space Station "Kibo".It utilizes the world's first technology for cultivating in a sealed bag, and is likely to be a major step toward future space development.
According to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, from August 8th to October 27th, the experiment brought lettuce to the Japanese Experiment Module in Kibo with an experimental device capable of cultivating three bags.As a result of supplying the culture solution into the bag at any time and exchanging air, the true leaves of lettuce were confirmed on September 10, and the lettuce was able to grow and harvest smoothly thereafter.
The cultivation equipment used in the experiment was 44 cm wide, 35 cm deep, 20 cm high, and weighed 5 kg.The size can be used in a space station that requires weight restrictions.In addition to the three bags, it was equipped with a device that prepares a culture solution from Kibo's drinking water, sterilizes it, and supplies it to the culture bag, as well as a system that automatically photographs the growth status on a regular basis.
By using this cultivation method, it is possible to grow a large amount of leafy vegetables at one time and also to grow virus-free seedlings.When human beings operate on celestial bodies other than the earth such as the moon and Mars, they have to produce food locally without relying on the supply from the earth, but if a farm is set up on the moon etc., the problem will be solved.
Five organizations, including the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, have established cultivation techniques in bags as a method to achieve this, and have been conducting demonstration experiments with Kibo.
