Fact Sheet

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Astro_Garden (Astro_Garden)
08.28.09
Scientists and payload developers can get more information on International Space Station research facilities by contacting the ISS Payloads Office or at 281-244-6187.

Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Images

Facility/Payload Overview

Brief Facility Summary

The Astro Garden, which is utilized by Educational Payload Operations - Kit C Plant Growth Chambers (EPO-Kit C) is a small, unpowered growth chamber for growing plants in microgravity. Plants are grown from pre-planted seeds in a plastic root module while the shoots are contained within a flexible bellows.

Facility Manager(s)

  • Thomas Crabb, Orbital Technologies Corporation, Madison WI

    • Co-Facility Manager(s)

    Information Pending

    Facility Developer

    Orbital Technologies Corporation, Madison WI

    Sponsoring Agency

    National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

    Expeditions Assigned

    |15|

    Previous ISS Missions

    ISS Expedition 15 was the first mission for the Astro Garden.

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    Facility/Payload Description

    Facility Summary

    • The Astro Garden uses the attraction of space flight to capture the interest of students and motivate them toward careers in science, mathematics, technology, engineering, and geography. Additionally, the edible plants grown can be eaten to supplement the crew's diet and provide a means of relaxation and recreation.


    • Crewmembers will maintain the plants and capture still images of the plant growth. After the initial mission, the chambers can be re-used at the crew's discretion.

    Description

    The Astro Garden is a small plant package consisting of three separate components: the growth chambers, the syringe, and five drink bags. The growth chamber is the primary element of the package and consists of the root module assembly to house the seed and hold the plants in place, a root/shoot barrier to contain the root medium, and an expandable bellows assembly to allow light to reach the plant while containing the plant material. The drink bags are filled from an on orbit water supply while the syringe provides the ability to add water to the root module. Once the water is added, the growth chamber is placed near an existing crew lighting source to provide the necessary illumination for growth. The hardware can be used multiple for missions on orbit without refurbishment. Additional growth chambers can be easily supplied to support future missions.

    The Astro Garden measures 17.8 cm x 10.1 cm x 5 cm collapsed and 17.8 cm in x 10.1 cm x 25.4 cm fully extended. It weighs 0.337 kg and requires no power.

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    Operations

    Facility Operations

    The Astro Garden is sent into microgravity dry containing preplanted seeds and can remain on orbit in stowage for several months prior to experiment initialization. To initiate the experiment, water is added to the root module using the syringe and the chamber is placed near an existing light source. Crewmembers add water as needed, observe the growth, and eventually harvest the plants.

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    Results/More Information

    Information Pending

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    Availability

  • Operated on ISS

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    Related Web Sites

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    Publications

    Results Publications

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      Related Publications

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        Images

        imageNASA Image: ISS015E23475 - View of plant growth in an Astro Garden collapsible growth chamber used by the Education Payload Operations (EPO) - Kit C experiment taken in the U.S. Laboratory/Destiny during ISS Expedition 15.
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        Information Provided and Updated by the ISS Program Scientist's Office
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