NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins planting Veg‑03J aboard ISS

In 2021, NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins planted Veg‑03J aboard the International Space Station using seed film for the first time. This advancement in planting technology streamlines crop initiation for the Veggie facility and informs future experiments such as Veg‑03 MNO, which is currently studying how microgravity impacts the growth of ‘Red Russian’ kale, ‘Wasabi’ mustard greens, and ‘Dragoon’ lettuce using similar seed film techniques.  Space crop activities on the orbiting laboratory in Veggie are enabled by NASA’s Biological and Physical Sciences Division and the International Space Station Program.  NASA’s advancements in space crop technology like seed film planting are expected to enable future space crop systems like Ohalo III being developed and tested by NASA’s Mars Campaign Office.