--- title: "Nerd Alert! I've been reading about the Advanced Plant Habitat aboard…" description: "Nerd Alert! I've been reading about the Advanced Plant Habitat aboard the International Space Station. “In order to thrive in deep space, there is a need for…" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/aGAK-4ayRFKntIfFxTpxsQ/64dd6c957ef47932f1948d2c" community: "Expert Level Greenspace" author: "Roundshouse Plants" published: "2023-08-17T00:40:53.662Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v2/cloudinary/global_data/communities/zdyrjruk9pxkybl9y7lh.jpg" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Expert Level Greenspace](https://getplanta.com/community/aGAK-4ayRFKntIfFxTpxsQ.md) # Nerd Alert! I've been reading about the Advanced Plant Habitat aboard… _Posted by Roundshouse Plants on 2023-08-17_ Nerd Alert! I've been reading about the Advanced Plant Habitat aboard the International Space Station. “In order to thrive in deep space, there is a need for new technologies in space crop production and food safety which will supplement the space diet with fresh, nutritious crops during space station, cislunar, lunar and eventually Mars missions. Currently, spaceflight plant research is conducted in plant chambers designed to operate in microgravity. Previous plant growth systems were limited by small growth areas available for crop production. In order to overcome remaining challenges in spaceflight plant research, larger plant growth systems were required. APH seeks to further our understanding of plant biology and crop growth in space. The variety of experiments flown use the APH facility test the genetic and epigenetic effects of spaceflight, plant metabolism, factors leading to crop flavor, and the effectiveness of APH hardware to grow plants for human consumption in space. Experience gained cultivating crops with APH will inform deep space missions requiring more sustainable and nutritional food sources.” I don’t know about you guys, but if I have to go to space, I’m taking my plants with me! This stuff is so fascinating. Lots of articles out there. Any search engine should fine ones for you! ## 7 comments ### Eliya commented on 2023-08-17 Haha! Fascinating! ### Mullein commented on 2023-08-17 Neat! I wonder if space philodendrons would still get stuck leaves 😂😜 #### Danika replied on 2023-08-17 Ha ha! I totally helped this leaf out this morning! ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/z8NlNnzN2bCQiikKWmC4jfK47VZM9QjYJXPHMlEmazc/1237f8d7f3904998b0f67e695b489b2b.webp?size=large) #### Danika replied on 2023-08-17 But thinking about this more seriously… i bet the leaf stuck issue would be even worse! Lack of gravity causes all kinds of issues long term in the human body such as blood pooling in legs and atrophy of muscles. So if plants are all light weight, not building the “muscles” or strength to pull them selves around, i wonder if this would result in wimpy small weak plants? Hmmm 🤔 ### Danika commented on 2023-08-17 I was just watching today about how to do tissue cultures in a sterile environment in glass jars. I bet this method would work in space! I suspect this is already part of it. I’ll have to ask my friend who works at Space X still (i used to contract for them but don’t anymore) if they are in on doing this. Could be just Nasa. Would be fun to be a part of that project! #### Roundshouse Plants replied on 2023-08-17 Right? Maybe they will have a version of SETI for the plant people. I'd totally do it. ### Anya commented on 2023-08-17 I’m so glad this group is getting used more! --- _Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_