The first "space" vegetables have been grown in the "SVET" greenhouse by means of controlled environmental conditions

• Published in: Microgravity quarterly Vol. 2; no. 2; p. 109
• Main Authors: Ivanova, T N, Bercovich YuA, Mashinskiy, A L, Meleshko, G I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-04-1992
• Subjects: Biomass; Brassica - growth & development; Culture Media; Ecological Systems, Closed; Environment, Controlled; Germination; Hydroponics - instrumentation; Hydroponics - methods; Life Support Systems - instrumentation; Seeds - growth & development; Space Flight - instrumentation; Weightlessness
• ISSN: 0958-5036

The paper describes the project "SVET"--the creating of a small dimensions space greenhouse of new generation. By means of minicomputer, "SVET" is full-automatic operating and controlling environmental conditions system in the higher plants growth unit. A number of studies have selected the radish and cabbage vegetables as a potentially important crop for CELSS (short term cycle of vegetation). The "SVET" space greenhouse has been mounted on the "CRYSTAL" technological module which docked to the "MIR" orbital space station on June 10, 1990. Soviet cosmonauts Balandin and Solovyov started the first experiments with the greenhouse on June 15, 1990. The preliminary results of the seeds cultivation for the first 54-days period in "SVET" are presented. Morphometrical characteristics of the plants, brought back to the Earth are given. The vegetation peculiarities, such as the plants growth and the development slowing-down, or the dry substance contents raising are noted. For the first time, the root crop of radish plants at microgravity conditions, are produced. Characteristics of controlled plants' environment parameters and an estimation of functional properties of control and regulation systems of the "SVET" greenhouse in space flight according to telemetry data is given.