Astronauts on the upcoming SpaceX Fram2 mission will attempt to grow edible mushrooms in space, a milestone that could offer a nutritious and sustainable food source for long-duration missions. The mission, launching as early as Monday, March 31, will be the first human spaceflight to fly over Earth’s polar regions.
The crew of four will conduct an experiment called Mission MushVroom, led by Australian company FOODiQ Global, which aims to grow oyster mushrooms in microgravity. The mushrooms could provide a vital source of nutrition for astronauts on missions to the moon, Mars, and beyond.
“Mushrooms are the perfect space crop,” said Flávia Fayet-Moore, CEO of FOODiQ Global. “Oyster mushrooms rapidly grow in small spaces and produce 100% of an astronaut’s daily dose of vitamin D when exposed to UV light.”
The Fram2 crew will study the development rate of the mushrooms, look for signs of contamination, and analyze growth characteristics during their three-to-five day mission. Afterward, scientists at FOODiQ Global will analyze the mushrooms grown in space to understand the effects of microgravity on their growth.
“This milestone represents a significant step forward for sustainable nutrition in space exploration,” said Ralph Fritsche, former NASA project manager. “Mission MushVroom plays a crucial role in advancing sustainable food production for long-duration missions and offers valuable insights into global food security.”
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/missions/spacexs-fram2-astronaut-flight-over-earths-poles-will-be-first-to-grow-mushrooms-in-space