Moon-Rice Could Soon Sprout in Space, Adding a Fresh Ingredient to Astronauts’ Diets
Astronauts can’t enjoy the bliss of home cooking in space, but they may soon be able to eat heartier and healthier meals with one staple ingredient as the star: rice. The simple crop has the potential to become an essential space food, which is why scientists are intent on genetically tailoring the perfect rice to be grown beyond our planet.A collaboration between the Italian Space Agency and three Italian universities — dubbed the Moon-Rice project — has already gotten a head start on creating rice that could nourish astronauts on long-term space missions. Since astronauts’ diets consist of pre-prepared meals that lack fresh ingredients, growing rice in space could help them get the nutrients they need to stay in shape while exploring the final frontier.
Read More: Timekeeping Works Differently on the Moon – Here's How...
