Why Do We Grow Plants in Space? We Asked a NASA Expert

Plants are more than just greenery, they’re key to helping astronauts survive and thrive off Earth. They provide food and oxygen, recycle water and waste, and even offer psychological benefits.

But the positives don’t stop there. Growing plants in the International Space Station also helps scientists develop new technologies for agriculture in extreme environments, a skill that could benefit future explorers on the Moon and Mars but also agriculture right here on Earth, especially in places where growing food is a challenge.