The Plan to Send Plant-Filled ‘Gardens’ Into Orbit

The article discusses the innovative Space Garden project, a concept for sending plant-filled "gardens" into low Earth orbit within the next five to seven years. Developed by the Aurelia Institute and a London-based design firm, the Space Garden aims to transform life in space by incorporating greenery into orbital habitats, making them more livable and psychologically beneficial for space commuters. The design features a central core of conical terraria surrounded by multiple arms ending in discs, intended to house a variety of plants, including culturally and aesthetically significant "hero" species like fig or pomegranate trees, moving beyond the typical lettuce and watercress grown in space so far. The article highlights the history and challenges of space gardening, noting that astronauts have grown crops such as onions, wheat, and tomatoes aboard space stations, and that seeds have even been tested on the lunar surface. Research led by Mike Dixon at the University of Guelph has sent millions of seeds into space, with many surviving exposure to cosmic radiation and extreme conditions, especially when shielded. Plants have shown surprising resilience to reduced pressure, oxygen levels, and temperature fluctuations, often outperforming humans in tolerating space environments. This resilience suggests plants will not be the limiting factor in space exploration, although the article cuts off before detailing the remaining challenges faced by space gardeners.