The successful germination of the barley seeds means astronauts could grow their own fresh produce during missions.
The University of Guelph has set its eyes on space. Faculty and researchers are looking for ways to sustain astronauts on long-term missions far from our planet, and apparently, that starts with sending several thousands of barley seeds to space.
The seeds, provided by the Glenlivet, were sent to the International Space Station (ISS) on a SpaceX rocket in May of 2021 and placed on the outdoor MISSE platform. Overseeing the project is Dr. Mike Dixon, professor in the School of Environmental Sciences and director of the Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility.
Hopes were that the seeds would withstand harsh space temperatures ranging from -200 degrees C to 200 C and still be able to germinate. However, Dixon admitted in a U of G release that he didn’t actually expect the seeds to survive.
And so a year later, the seeds were sent back to Earth after a long orbit around the planet, and sure enough, they were successfully able to germinate.
According to laboratory tests, the barley seeds would be able to survive at temperatures as low as -200 C, but not above 50 C. Dixon speculates that the seeds’ location on the underside of the MISSE platform meant the seeds were “always in the shadow of elements of the platform.” As a result, temperature limits were not exceeded, and the batch was able to germinate.
Dixon has been researching how to grow crops in controlled environments for over 25 years. He and his team have also experimented with lettuce, strawberries, and cannabis by growing them in hypobaric growth chambers which simulate conditions in space.
By ensuring that seeds and crops can survive in such environments, astronauts may be able to grow their own plants and regularly access fresh produce during long-term missions. Crop-growing would also provide oxygen as well as clean water through the transpiration process.
The research being conducted now will greatly impact the future of space travel. In fact, Dixon plans to eventually grow barley on the moon.
As for the seeds that have already been to space, most were returned to the care of U of G, although a “good portion” was also sent to world-renowned whisky maker Chivas to later be malted and distilled by the Glenlivet distillery in Scotland.
In the meantime though, Dixon says “we are continuing with the science.”