STS-73 (Columbia, 20 Oct 95 - 05 Nov 95)

Norland Potato Tuberization ("Spuds in Space")

RELATED LINKS NASA Information on STS-73 Astroculture Flight Unit

Five Norland potato tubers produced in space on STS-73

The experiment performed during the STS-73 mission investigated the translocation of starch in potato plants. Potatoes were selected as the subject for this activity mainly because they are being considered as a food crop for crews of long duration space missions or members of extraterrestrial colonies. Gaining experience with how potatoes grow in a controlled environment plant chamber in microgravity thus becomes important.

Mission Specialist Catherine Coleman takes a sample from Astroculture.

The objective was to investigate whether tubers which form in microgravity do so within a different timeframe, at a different rate, or acquire a different shape compared to their Earth-grown counterparts, and examine the possible effects of microgravity on starch translocation. After approximately 12 days into the mission, the stem cuttings showed signs of leaf senescence, as could be seen via real-time video imaging offered by the Astroculture flight unit. This is normally seen during terrestrial tuberization and is an indication that tubers have formed. Upon return to Earth, the specimens were removed and all five of the stem cuttings had produced one tuber, each with a diameter of 10-15 mm. The timeframe to tuber formation in microgravity was slightly accelerated compared to the same process on Earth, but the tubers did not appear different than the Earth-grown. These results provide an initial indication that potatoes may indeed be a good crop for a long-term extraterrestrial food supply.

STS-50 - STS-57 - STS-60 - STS-63 - STS-73 - STS-95 - STS-101 - STS-107  /  STS-89/91 - Inc 2 - Inc 4 - Inc 5