UK Space Agency Experiment Proves that Growing Food on Other Planets is Possible

One of the latest experiments supported by the UK Space Agency proves that plants can survive in space. While these seeds age faster and grow slower, this study still supports the likeliness that we can grow food on other planets. 

UK Space Agency & Rocket Science experiment 

Two kilos of seeds spent half a year on the board the ISS. When Tim Peake, ESA astronaut, returned to the Earth, these seeds took part in a curious experiment supported by the UK Space Agency. Over 600,000 children from various UK schools planted those to watch and monitor their growth.

The outcome of the experiment was that the seeds remained viable — even though they absorbed 100x more radiation than they normally would on Earth. UK Space Agency, along with its Rocket Science program for the young, observed their growth. The plants grew slower and were much more prone to quick ageing, but they grew.

According to Tim Peake, the astronaut behind this joint mission by ESA and UK Space Agency, this was one of the most inspirational experiments he ever took part in. The results clearly prove that plants from Earth can survive a journey through space. This, in turn, means that there is hope for growing food on another planet. More precisely, it means food may be grown on Mars. 

The UK Space Agency is even more optimistic since it believes that data from this experiment will inspire a younger generation of biologists and will eventually give further insight into developing agriculture beyond our home planet.