VEGGIES IN OUTER SPACE

LONG REGULARLY EXPENSIVE PERHAPS WAY DREAM GROW LABORATORY SYSTEM GREEN PLANT ONLY AMOUNT COMPUTER

Astronauts often spend a ___ time in space and ___ don’t get fresh food ___. It is also very ___ to send food from ___ to space stations. However, ___ this will change in ___ future. Scientists are examining ___ to grow fresh vegetables ___ space stations, in spaceships ___ even on Mars. They ___ of growing vegetables on ___ colonies in the future. ___ the moment, scientists are ___ lettuce in a special ___ on Earth. There isn’t ___ gravity in this laboratory ___ the conditions are similar ___ conditions in space. The ___ uses blue, red and ___ LEDs to help the ___ to grow. It is ___ energy-efficient system and it ___ needs about half the ___ of electricity as a ___.
   Lettuce is an ideal choice for the first space vegetable. It grows in a short time (about 28 days) and it has got a lot of antioxidants. Antioxidants are good for the astronauts’ health. In addition, astronauts don’t have to cook lettuce so it is easy to prepare. Once they grow lettuce successfully, scientists are going to experiment with other easy-to- grow plants, such as cabbage. Not every vegetable is a good choice – tomatoes and beans are not good because they take a longer time to grow. There is another advantage to growing vegetables on a space station. Astronauts like having plants near them. It makes them feel at home and closer to Earth!

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Have fun....and take care!