A team of highly qualified cosmonauts from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration of the United States of America (NASA) is intensely preparing for the upcoming unusual flight into interstellar space.
The fact is that a specially trained crew faces an important task - to grow and control the fruiting of such a plant as red chili pepper, based on the International Space Station.
It is noteworthy that the cultivation of Capsicum annuum pepper in space beds is part of the preparation of astronauts from Earth for flying to Mars with a special mission.
It is known that you can’t get to Mars faster than in two years. That is why astronauts should be prepared as much as possible to provide themselves with provisions, including agricultural ones.
Therefore, mission participants will be provided with fruit and vegetable planting material and means for cultivating it under conditions of space expeditions, so that astronauts can provide themselves with the proper level of nutrients and minerals, which are found only in vegetables and fruits.
One of the breeders, who was engaged in the selection of crops for cultivation in space conditions, Jacob Tores, noted: “Espanyola and my peppers were chosen for a reason!
The fact is that this particular type of culture demonstrates high endurance and stability when grown at high altitude. “Hispaniola also has a rather short ripening period!”
In addition, the flowers of these peppers are easy to pollinate, even in conditions where the concentration of carbon dioxide is increased and weightlessness prevails.
The first batch of seeds of "fiery" pepper will be delivered to the International Space Station at the end of the current or the beginning of the next, 2020.