Vertical farming could be the solution to growing food on Mars
Artificial environment engineering company Interstellar Lab believes it has the solution for growing crops on Mars -- the Nutritional Closed-Loop Eco-Unit System or "NUCLEUS."
Interstellar Lab
The modular structure is composed of nine cube capsules and is designed to provide a nutritious diet for four astronauts for the duration of a two-year mission, using the principles of vertical farming.
Interstellar Lab
According to CEO Barbara Belvisi, it is capable of producing fresh microgreens, vegetables, mushrooms, and even edible insects.
Interstellar Lab
This Crop One facility in Dubai is the world's largest vertical farming operation, and showcases how the technique can allow for efficient crop growth in limited space.
Emirates-Crop One
Vertical farming delivers nutrient-rich water directly to a plant's roots. This can vastly reduce water and fertilizer usage compared to traditional outdoor agriculture.
Emirates-Crop One
According to Crop One, its Dubai farm produces 1 million kilograms (over 2 million pounds) of crops annually. The farm cultivates a variety of greens, such as kale, spinach and arugula.
Emirates-Crop One
On a small scale, astronauts are already growing crops aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Pictured here, Kayla Barron works on a space agriculture experiment aboard the ISS.
NASA
Astronauts have succeeded in growing small crops of leafy greens in a nutrient-rich substrate inside sealed chambers, using artificial lights. Pictured here, astronaut Jessica Meir cuts leaves from plants grown in microgravity.
NASA
Pictured, NASA astronaut and flight engineer Kate Rubins checks out radish plants growing on the space station.
NASA
Astronauts aren't only growing vegetables on the ISS. Pictured, Scott Kelly harvests space-grown zinnias. It was part of a study investigating growing edible crops on long-duration space missions.
NASA
Artificial environment engineering company Interstellar Lab believes it has the solution for growing crops on Mars -- the Nutritional Closed-Loop Eco-Unit System or "NUCLEUS."
Interstellar Lab
Artificial environment engineering company Interstellar Lab believes it has the solution for growing crops on Mars -- the Nutritional Closed-Loop Eco-Unit System or "NUCLEUS."