Growing food in space is no longer just a futuristic idea. For astronauts living aboard the International Space Station (ISS), growing small quantities of fresh vegetables is already part of ongoing research into how plants behave away from Earth- and whether they could one day help sustain crews on longer missions to the Moon or Mars.That research recently turned into a rather unusual meal for Indian-origin NASA astronaut Anil Menon and fellow astronaut Jessica Meir. In a video shared by Menon on X, the two can be seen harvesting leafy greens grown aboard the space station, examining the plants and then trying them with simple seasonings.The vegetables- kale and wasabi mustard- had been growing in space for about a month, offering the astronauts something that is rarely available hundreds of kilometres above Earth: fresh food picked just before eating.The video captures the pair examining the leaves, tasting them and experimenting with simple seasonings. What begins as a small cooking session quickly turns into a fascinating glimpse of what eating- and eventually farming- could look like on longer space missions.
‘Smells like Earth’: A simple meal takes on a different meaning in space
Photo source: X/@astro_anil
As Meir picks up a leaf and prepares to taste it, she says she wants to try “a little piece of this leaf just on its own”.Menon suggests adding some oil and vinegar. Meir then pauses to smell the fresh produce and remarks that it “smells like earth”. “I miss earth. But luckily you can see it,” Menon replies.The exchange captures something easy to forget when looking at images of astronauts floating inside the ISS: despite the advanced technology and extraordinary surroundings, familiar sights, smells and tastes can still carry emotional weight.The two astronauts then sample the greens with different accompaniments, including wasabi mustard cream. Meir describes it as particularly strong.
But the conversation soon shifts from food to science.
While examining one of the leaves, Meir notices something unusual- small new leaves appearing from the surface of the main leaf. She wonders whether the unusual growth could be linked to the plant growing in microgravity.She points out that earlier experiments involving lettuces and other vegetables have shown differences between plants grown aboard the station and those grown on Earth.Watch the video here:
Why growing vegetables in space matters
Growing a few leaves on the ISS may sound like a novelty, but NASA’s plant experiments have a much bigger purpose.The space station has been used as a laboratory for studying how plants grow in microgravity, including how their roots, leaves and overall development respond when gravity is dramatically different from conditions on Earth.NASA’s Veggie plant growth system is part of this research. Such experiments are important because fresh food could become increasingly valuable as astronauts spend longer periods away from Earth.For missions to the Moon and, eventually, Mars, crews cannot depend entirely on regular deliveries of packaged food. Growing at least some food during a long-duration mission could provide astronauts with fresh produce while also helping scientists understand how plants can be cultivated away from Earth.There are other potential benefits too. Fresh crops could supplement stored food and provide a psychological connection to Earth during missions that may last months or even years.
Menon’s first space mission
The vegetable harvest is taking place during Menon’s first spaceflight. He arrived at the ISS on July 14 aboard the Roscosmos Soyuz MS-29 spacecraft along with cosmonauts Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina. NASA says Menon is expected to spend approximately eight months aboard the orbital laboratory as part of Expeditions 74 and 75.Menon’s mission involves considerably more than tending plants. He is participating in scientific research and technology demonstrations, including work involving semiconductor crystal production, medical ultrasound, blood flow in microgravity and bioprinting research.He has also already completed one of the most demanding milestones of his mission. On August 6, Menon and Meir spent 6 hours and 23 minutes outside the ISS during a spacewalk to prepare a power channel for future installation of additional roll-out solar arrays. It was Menon’s first spacewalk and Meir’s sixth.Now, in between the high-stakes work of maintaining an orbital laboratory, the astronauts are finding time for something much simpler: picking a few leaves, adding a little seasoning and sharing a meal.And perhaps that is what makes the video so striking. There is no elaborate kitchen or elaborate recipe- just two astronauts, freshly harvested greens and a reminder of the planet they left behind.
