Highlights
- Nasa Astronaut Hopkins was able to pollinate a plant in space using a paintbrush
- It has separate significance for the pollination procedure
- Scientists expect that more plants can be grown in space with time
For a long time, it was not possible to imagine that we can even grow something in space for the astronauts to eat. Recently, an incident has proved this to be wrong. NASA astronaut Michael Hopkins has been able to grow Pak Choi and Amara Hopkins in space. The plants had been growing for 64 days, and this is the longest any plant has remained alive on the International Space Station.
NASA Astronaut Hopkins Uses A Paintbrush To Pollinate Flowers
NASA astronaut Hopkins with his crewmates was already bored of the packed nutritious food which had been sent by NASA for their expedition. It is very tough for astronauts to maintain any resemblance with real life when they are in space. They have to float in space with no feeling of “Earth Life” around them. The food, although quite nutritious, cannot meet the taste of the mouth. These green plants can help provide some connection with the earth and boost the spirits of space-bound astronauts.
Hopkins used a very innovative method to pollinate the flowering plants using a paintbrush. The idea has been quite successful as well. Matt Romeyn, a space crop scientist stated that he was not at all surprised when Hopkins decided to pollinate the plant with a brush. He has always been very imaginative and resourceful. After using the paintbrush, it was seen that the production rate of the plants increased quite a lot, according to NASA news.
Chicken In Pak Choi Wrap
The images of the NASA astronaut using the green leaves like leafy vegetables were soon received. It was almost like they were enjoying a lettuce wrap in their little picnic. It was a welcoming step as food remains the only element that can maintain a connection with the earth. Hopkins used the Pak Choi as one of the side dishes. He marinated the leaf with soy sauce and garlic and put it inside a small food warmer for about 20 to 30 minutes. The tortilla package turned out to be great as a new chicken wrap dish for space.
Significance In Pollination
The chief significance of this finding was that the people will now understand the mechanics of pollination in space as well. There is no gravity in space, and thus, how the pollen reaches the ovary can be answered by studying the enzymes of pollination and plant habitat. It can be a brilliant step in Botany and plant pollination if the steps are taken accurately.
