A greenhouse is being developed to be sent on a space flight to the ISSPhoto: redwirespace.com A greenhouse is being developed to be sent on a space flight to the ISS
Scheduled to launch in space in the spring of 2023, the Redwire Greenhouse will be the world’s first commercial greenhouse installed on the International Space Station (ISS). Manufacturers report this on their website.
The American corporation Redwire has announced that it will develop the only commercial operating platform capable of growing plants from seeding to harvesting in space. Commercial agricultural technology company Dewey Scientific will be a Redwire customer for the first flight.
The Redwire Greenhouse will be a source of valuable information for agronomists and greatly expand the ability of mankind to grow a full crop of crops in space.
Space greenhouse to launch in spring 2023
“The Redwire Greenhouse will enhance the opportunities for scientific discovery to improve crop production on Earth and enable important crop research for future long-range human spaceflight. Growing a full-fledged crop in space will be critical for future space exploration missions, as plants provide nutrition, oxygen, and water restoration.”
Dave Reed – Director of Operations for the Redwire Spaceport in Florida and Project Manager
Hemp will be sent to space to the ISS
The Redwire Greenhouse is the solution for customers looking to go from laboratory research to actual production in space. It will also provide space exploration access to commercial clients with a variety of horticultural purposes. A demonstration in space in 2023 will allow us to analyze the operation of the facility and assess the possibilities of lighting, ventilation and disposal of fallen leaves.
During the first flight, Dewey Scientific will grow industrial hemp in a space greenhouse to study gene expression. The company provided technical documentation on the 60-day experiment and the potential to demonstrate the facility’s capabilities, including biomedical research and biofuel research.
“Building on years of partnerships with commercial organizations such as Tupperware, Eli Lilly and now Dewey Scientific, Redwire Greenhouse is taking another pioneering step in creating a viable environment in low Earth orbit. Thanks to the partnership with Redwire, space is open for business.”
John Wellinger – Redwire’s Executive Vice President of Space Operations and Manufacturing
Plant growing technologies already tested in space
The Redwire Greenhouse will use spaceflight-tested growing technologies, including passive orbital nutrient delivery devices developed in partnership with Tupperware brands and currently in service on the ISS. Larger versions of the greenhouse can be used by customers to grow crops or test plant life support systems.
The development of a unique space greenhouse project was made possible thanks to a grant from the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space of the US National Laboratory.
