1 00:00:29,430 --> 00:00:26,700 [Music] 2 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:29,440 [Applause] 3 00:00:36,630 --> 00:00:34,850 [Music] 4 00:00:43,490 --> 00:00:36,640 [Applause] 5 00:00:52,020 --> 00:00:43,500 [Music] 6 00:01:06,740 --> 00:00:54,790 [Applause] 7 00:01:11,010 --> 00:01:09,240 hey good afternoon once again I'm Joshua 8 00:01:13,109 --> 00:01:11,020 Santora and I'm coming to you live from 9 00:01:15,179 --> 00:01:13,119 the Kennedy Space Center sort of 10 00:01:17,219 --> 00:01:15,189 obviously with the way things are these 11 00:01:18,929 --> 00:01:17,229 days I'm coming to you from my house but 12 00:01:21,060 --> 00:01:18,939 still talking about some amazing work 13 00:01:23,279 --> 00:01:21,070 happening at America's spaceport as we 14 00:01:26,070 --> 00:01:23,289 like to call it certainly the spaceport 15 00:01:28,710 --> 00:01:26,080 that has the most epic history and in 16 00:01:30,570 --> 00:01:28,720 history and so we want to talk today a 17 00:01:32,820 --> 00:01:30,580 little bit about things that you can be 18 00:01:35,100 --> 00:01:32,830 doing at home believe it or not so we're 19 00:01:37,529 --> 00:01:35,110 talking about growing plans from popcorn 20 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:37,539 so you might be asking yourself number 21 00:01:41,279 --> 00:01:38,890 one how do you do this and number two 22 00:01:43,380 --> 00:01:41,289 why is NASA concerned about this and we 23 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:43,390 will get to that in just a minute here 24 00:01:46,710 --> 00:01:45,490 but first up we want to make sure we 25 00:01:48,529 --> 00:01:46,720 highlight the fact that we are a 26 00:01:50,850 --> 00:01:48,539 spaceport and we are open for business 27 00:01:53,639 --> 00:01:50,860 specifically today we are honing in on 28 00:01:55,770 --> 00:01:53,649 the research and technology arm of what 29 00:01:59,459 --> 00:01:55,780 we do here so we're involved with Space 30 00:02:00,929 --> 00:01:59,469 Station activities as well as some 31 00:02:02,149 --> 00:02:00,939 really interesting research happening 32 00:02:04,889 --> 00:02:02,159 here on the ground to support 33 00:02:07,020 --> 00:02:04,899 exploration let's jump right into it now 34 00:02:09,199 --> 00:02:07,030 so I'm gonna go ahead and bring over my 35 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:09,209 guest I want to introduce you first 36 00:02:15,210 --> 00:02:12,850 Gioia Massa joy is a life sciences 37 00:02:20,370 --> 00:02:15,220 project scientist joy thanks for being 38 00:02:22,920 --> 00:02:20,380 here yeah and and we also had today 39 00:02:24,390 --> 00:02:22,930 Trent Smith Trent how are you doing 40 00:02:29,789 --> 00:02:24,400 today veggie project manager and 41 00:02:31,940 --> 00:02:29,799 self-proclaimed nerd doing great thanks 42 00:02:34,979 --> 00:02:31,950 for odds putting all this together Josh 43 00:02:37,500 --> 00:02:34,989 yeah absolutely so we want to jump right 44 00:02:42,030 --> 00:02:37,510 in here and we'll get to the how do you 45 00:02:43,979 --> 00:02:42,040 grow popcorn yourselves in the at your 46 00:02:46,199 --> 00:02:43,989 home in just a little bit but let's talk 47 00:02:53,910 --> 00:02:46,209 about why does NASA have plant 48 00:02:55,949 --> 00:02:53,920 scientists at all well really the Center 49 00:02:58,920 --> 00:02:55,959 for the agency in addition to being 50 00:03:00,630 --> 00:02:58,930 America's spaceport so we have plant 51 00:03:03,810 --> 00:03:00,640 research going on here 52 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:03,820 for a couple of different things we have 53 00:03:09,780 --> 00:03:07,690 people that look at fundamental plant 54 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:09,790 responses to their environment and they 55 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:12,370 use space to and how plants who sense 56 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:15,130 and respond to things like gravity but 57 00:03:21,420 --> 00:03:18,850 what we do try to do is more applied 58 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:21,430 space crop production looking at how to 59 00:03:30,390 --> 00:03:23,170 grow food for the astronauts in the 60 00:03:32,550 --> 00:03:30,400 future Trent from your perspective what 61 00:03:34,290 --> 00:03:32,560 are what what are we talking about when 62 00:03:36,210 --> 00:03:34,300 I talk about plant scientists we're 63 00:03:38,699 --> 00:03:36,220 trying to learn things and grow and get 64 00:03:40,949 --> 00:03:38,709 smarter for the purpose of exploration 65 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:40,959 so what does that look like why are we 66 00:03:46,500 --> 00:03:44,170 doing this what are we learning well you 67 00:03:49,530 --> 00:03:46,510 know when we go to Mars we're gonna need 68 00:03:51,570 --> 00:03:49,540 to grow some of the food or to 69 00:03:53,610 --> 00:03:51,580 supplement the nutrition and so right 70 00:03:55,050 --> 00:03:53,620 now with veggie on space station and the 71 00:03:57,120 --> 00:03:55,060 ground research that we do at Kennedy 72 00:04:00,300 --> 00:03:57,130 we're learning right now just how to 73 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:00,310 grow and eat plants so you know it's 74 00:04:04,830 --> 00:04:02,050 it's really about the stepping stone 75 00:04:10,350 --> 00:04:04,840 approach to growing plants on the moon 76 00:04:11,250 --> 00:04:10,360 and then Mars for astronaut nutrition so 77 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:11,260 can you talk a little bit about this 78 00:04:24,140 --> 00:04:12,730 picture we talked about growing plants 79 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:27,690 and then the very first set of lettuce 80 00:04:32,700 --> 00:04:30,250 in veggie so peas are small plants 81 00:04:34,950 --> 00:04:32,710 member on the space station and this was 82 00:04:37,830 --> 00:04:34,960 the first time that we had grown these 83 00:04:42,740 --> 00:04:37,840 lettuce plants and confetti and Trent 84 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:46,580 yeah that that's funny he was such a pro 85 00:04:52,130 --> 00:04:50,010 when he harvested that that crop I mean 86 00:04:54,470 --> 00:04:52,140 if you look at the photo there were only 87 00:04:56,780 --> 00:04:54,480 three plants but we had six plants that 88 00:04:58,430 --> 00:04:56,790 we'd hope to grow so we were only 50% on 89 00:05:00,440 --> 00:04:58,440 that one but that was our first time 90 00:05:02,870 --> 00:05:00,450 ever so you know a lot of times when you 91 00:05:04,130 --> 00:05:02,880 bat 500 your first time it could be a 92 00:05:05,660 --> 00:05:04,140 failure or it could be a success 93 00:05:08,330 --> 00:05:05,670 depending on how you look at it but you 94 00:05:09,890 --> 00:05:08,340 saw the smile on his face and they were 95 00:05:13,430 --> 00:05:09,900 really excited about the harvest that 96 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:13,440 harvest there were new astronauts there 97 00:05:18,530 --> 00:05:15,810 and even a cosmonaut so it was a big 98 00:05:20,210 --> 00:05:18,540 deal for the crew and when we think 99 00:05:22,100 --> 00:05:20,220 about just the nature of that you 100 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:22,110 mentioned kind of 50% being good for 101 00:05:25,280 --> 00:05:24,090 your first time most people hear that 102 00:05:28,190 --> 00:05:25,290 and they might not they might not 103 00:05:29,780 --> 00:05:28,200 understand why that's true so for for 104 00:05:31,130 --> 00:05:29,790 you and I we understand that life and 105 00:05:32,810 --> 00:05:31,140 space is different but for those who may 106 00:05:34,250 --> 00:05:32,820 not really come and be able to kind of 107 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:34,260 wrap their minds around why is it so 108 00:05:38,540 --> 00:05:36,210 different to grow plants in space what 109 00:05:41,270 --> 00:05:38,550 are some of the challenges that that 110 00:05:42,970 --> 00:05:41,280 make this so challenging try let's start 111 00:05:45,710 --> 00:05:42,980 with you and enjoy over to you right 112 00:05:49,150 --> 00:05:45,720 yeah you know really growing plants and 113 00:05:51,260 --> 00:05:49,160 space is really difficult because of 114 00:05:53,840 --> 00:05:51,270 watering right when we water our plants 115 00:05:56,030 --> 00:05:53,850 here like around in my house I'd go to 116 00:05:57,860 --> 00:05:56,040 the kitchen I fill up my picture and I 117 00:06:01,310 --> 00:05:57,870 just water them right and the water 118 00:06:02,990 --> 00:06:01,320 drains down but in space when to water 119 00:06:05,719 --> 00:06:03,000 your plants you haven't at first of all 120 00:06:07,130 --> 00:06:05,729 need a pot to hold your dirt even if you 121 00:06:09,770 --> 00:06:07,140 use dirt at all right we're studying 122 00:06:11,540 --> 00:06:09,780 ways to grow plants you know like we do 123 00:06:13,070 --> 00:06:11,550 gone to ground hydroponically but you 124 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:13,080 can't really it's more difficult to do 125 00:06:16,780 --> 00:06:15,090 that in space so we need to contain the 126 00:06:19,790 --> 00:06:16,790 dirt we need to contain the roots and 127 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:19,800 you know photons don't care about 128 00:06:24,110 --> 00:06:22,650 gravity that water does so when we grew 129 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:24,120 those plants we weren't sure how the 130 00:06:28,219 --> 00:06:26,250 watering was going to work and that is 131 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:28,229 why we lost two of the plants and 132 00:06:33,020 --> 00:06:30,690 actually with that experiment we have 133 00:06:35,840 --> 00:06:33,030 two seeds in one of the pillows and that 134 00:06:37,490 --> 00:06:35,850 one didn't terminate at all so you know 135 00:06:39,409 --> 00:06:37,500 it really Illustrated a lot of the 136 00:06:41,510 --> 00:06:39,419 issues we're gonna have growing plants 137 00:06:43,550 --> 00:06:41,520 on Mars and the moon is you know 138 00:06:45,830 --> 00:06:43,560 watering your plants and then see 139 00:06:47,990 --> 00:06:45,840 germination and then of course keeping 140 00:06:49,550 --> 00:06:48,000 the plants healthy that was things that 141 00:06:53,210 --> 00:06:49,560 we learned later Joya what do you want 142 00:06:55,340 --> 00:06:53,220 to add on that well 143 00:06:57,200 --> 00:06:55,350 I think the watering is the biggest 144 00:06:59,480 --> 00:06:57,210 challenge and you know I think we have a 145 00:07:01,730 --> 00:06:59,490 really good video that you can show of 146 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:01,740 commander Chris Hadfield bringing out a 147 00:07:07,430 --> 00:07:04,530 wet washcloth to kind of illustrate why 148 00:07:10,940 --> 00:07:07,440 this is such a challenge so you know 149 00:07:13,850 --> 00:07:10,950 he's adding water to a cloth and he'll 150 00:07:17,030 --> 00:07:13,860 get this plop really really wet and then 151 00:07:19,460 --> 00:07:17,040 he starts to bring it out and this was 152 00:07:21,110 --> 00:07:19,470 actually an experiment designed by 153 00:07:22,910 --> 00:07:21,120 schoolchildren and it's a it's a 154 00:07:25,850 --> 00:07:22,920 brilliant experiment so you do this 155 00:07:29,650 --> 00:07:25,860 really wet cloth and as she squeezes it 156 00:07:33,050 --> 00:07:29,660 you'll start to see this film of water 157 00:07:35,540 --> 00:07:33,060 coating the edges of the cloth and it 158 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:35,550 gets thicker and thicker and the film of 159 00:07:41,450 --> 00:07:38,130 water is it's a tube of water around 160 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:41,460 that washcloth and it starts to crawl up 161 00:07:47,630 --> 00:07:45,210 his hands and coat the surfaces so you 162 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:47,640 can see that and if you think of that 163 00:07:53,060 --> 00:07:51,210 washcloth like a plant root the same 164 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:53,070 thing is happening to your plant roots 165 00:07:59,480 --> 00:07:56,250 and the reason that this is important is 166 00:08:02,360 --> 00:07:59,490 because plant roots need air they 167 00:08:04,909 --> 00:08:02,370 breathe oxygen they have a process 168 00:08:06,890 --> 00:08:04,919 called respiration which you know it's 169 00:08:10,190 --> 00:08:06,900 similar to our process of respiration 170 00:08:13,210 --> 00:08:10,200 they need oxygen to keep the cells alive 171 00:08:15,740 --> 00:08:13,220 the chute also but plant shoots also 172 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:15,750 generate oxygen through the process of 173 00:08:21,170 --> 00:08:17,690 photosynthesis when the lights are on 174 00:08:23,510 --> 00:08:21,180 and they get oxygen from the air but in 175 00:08:27,380 --> 00:08:23,520 the roots when you have that much water 176 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:27,390 it's really hard to get the oxygen in to 177 00:08:33,709 --> 00:08:30,450 the plant roots and so your plants are 178 00:08:37,159 --> 00:08:33,719 always either getting too much water in 179 00:08:40,339 --> 00:08:37,169 space or not enough water and then you 180 00:08:42,409 --> 00:08:40,349 have problems with roof and if you can't 181 00:08:45,380 --> 00:08:42,419 have good words you can't have happy 182 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:45,390 plants so I think the water issue is one 183 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:47,250 of the biggest chop functions that we're 184 00:08:53,780 --> 00:08:51,210 dealing with so far plants in general 185 00:08:57,079 --> 00:08:53,790 seem to adapt pretty well to other 186 00:08:59,420 --> 00:08:57,089 aspects of the space flight condition as 187 00:09:01,970 --> 00:08:59,430 long as you have things like fans to 188 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:01,980 move the air and let faith to guide the 189 00:09:10,750 --> 00:09:08,180 so kind of a segue here this is 190 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:10,760 obviously kind of some of that beautiful 191 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:13,170 just plant growth in space obviously we 192 00:09:17,030 --> 00:09:14,970 saw some lettuce earlier which is great 193 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:17,040 for nutrition this is not so good for 194 00:09:24,140 --> 00:09:18,930 nutrition but what's the value in seeing 195 00:09:26,180 --> 00:09:24,150 a flower in space so I'll take that and 196 00:09:28,700 --> 00:09:26,190 enjoy it just add on I just wanted to 197 00:09:30,860 --> 00:09:28,710 mention that the flower was really one 198 00:09:33,380 --> 00:09:30,870 of our first ornamentals and it was the 199 00:09:40,100 --> 00:09:33,390 first ornamental and veggie and the 200 00:09:41,720 --> 00:09:40,110 flower really for the I'm sorry the the 201 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:41,730 flower though you need a flower to 202 00:09:45,320 --> 00:09:43,290 produce free so if you're growing 203 00:09:47,690 --> 00:09:45,330 tomatoes if you're growing peppers or 204 00:09:49,610 --> 00:09:47,700 anything like that for vitamin C or or 205 00:09:52,720 --> 00:09:49,620 any other nutrition you'll need to get a 206 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:52,730 flower than a fruit so the that was good 207 00:10:09,140 --> 00:09:54,930 go ahead what do you what more do you 208 00:10:12,590 --> 00:10:09,150 got to add on that well he did a 209 00:10:18,050 --> 00:10:12,600 wonderful job saving those plants we had 210 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:18,060 some problems with water and well 211 00:10:24,260 --> 00:10:20,130 remembers with lots of really early 212 00:10:27,260 --> 00:10:24,270 morning calls from the station but when 213 00:10:29,270 --> 00:10:27,270 when they started flowering rose it was 214 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:29,280 also this thing of beauty 215 00:10:34,970 --> 00:10:31,890 and I think that was something that he 216 00:10:35,270 --> 00:10:34,980 didn't realize what an impact that would 217 00:10:38,570 --> 00:10:35,280 have 218 00:10:40,850 --> 00:10:38,580 but Scott actually made a bouquet from 219 00:10:43,940 --> 00:10:40,860 the zinnias that he harvested that he 220 00:10:46,190 --> 00:10:43,950 threw there were enough flowers and you 221 00:10:48,530 --> 00:10:46,200 know was the first time there was a 222 00:10:52,190 --> 00:10:48,540 flower arrangement in space you know and 223 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:52,200 and and so I think for me I felt really 224 00:10:58,070 --> 00:10:54,930 humbled to be a part of generating 225 00:11:02,960 --> 00:10:58,080 something that that was art in space as 226 00:11:04,130 --> 00:11:02,970 well so thinking about obviously we're 227 00:11:05,570 --> 00:11:04,140 getting better and better we're learning 228 00:11:08,329 --> 00:11:05,580 more and more about growing in low Earth 229 00:11:09,340 --> 00:11:08,339 orbit but for NASA we have our eyes set 230 00:11:11,439 --> 00:11:09,350 on the moon 231 00:11:14,139 --> 00:11:11,449 with the vision for Mars we have the 232 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:14,149 Artemis program so what are what are 233 00:11:18,639 --> 00:11:16,250 kind of the future challenges as we look 234 00:11:20,199 --> 00:11:18,649 to move beyond a platform that certainly 235 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:20,209 we haven't mastered yet but that we're 236 00:11:24,910 --> 00:11:22,970 good at what's next for us where those 237 00:11:29,699 --> 00:11:24,920 challenges lie and being the best at 238 00:11:38,410 --> 00:11:34,780 well you know we've started with lettuce 239 00:11:40,900 --> 00:11:38,420 leafy green crops and we're figuring out 240 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:40,910 how to understand the food safety of 241 00:11:45,430 --> 00:11:43,130 those plants as we grow them in space 242 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:45,440 because food safety is really important 243 00:11:50,650 --> 00:11:47,930 you know just as its it's a challenge to 244 00:11:53,019 --> 00:11:50,660 water your crops it's also a challenge 245 00:11:56,110 --> 00:11:53,029 to wash your vegetables right it's even 246 00:11:58,920 --> 00:11:56,120 hard to wash your hands in space and so 247 00:12:02,110 --> 00:11:58,930 we have to understand how to keep the 248 00:12:05,499 --> 00:12:02,120 plants clean and safe to eat here's a 249 00:12:08,379 --> 00:12:05,509 wonderful shot of Jessica and the other 250 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:08,389 astronauts having some mizuna mustard 251 00:12:13,150 --> 00:12:10,850 recently on the space station which they 252 00:12:17,439 --> 00:12:13,160 mixed with the packaged food and and 253 00:12:20,319 --> 00:12:17,449 seemed to really enjoy we were also 254 00:12:24,430 --> 00:12:20,329 working on you know solving the problems 255 00:12:26,139 --> 00:12:24,440 of watering selecting new crops for 256 00:12:27,939 --> 00:12:26,149 space that's another thing that we have 257 00:12:29,970 --> 00:12:27,949 a lot of work going on here at Kennedy 258 00:12:32,680 --> 00:12:29,980 Space Center and and around the country 259 00:12:35,620 --> 00:12:32,690 with students helping us and I can talk 260 00:12:38,769 --> 00:12:35,630 more about that later and then we're 261 00:12:41,410 --> 00:12:38,779 working on designing the growth systems 262 00:12:44,470 --> 00:12:41,420 for the future you know for for 263 00:12:47,259 --> 00:12:44,480 something in space in microgravity space 264 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:47,269 to grow is pretty limited and so we have 265 00:12:52,480 --> 00:12:49,970 to keep these these growth chambers 266 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:52,490 small but we want to get high yields we 267 00:12:55,860 --> 00:12:54,290 want to get a lot of productivity if you 268 00:12:59,079 --> 00:12:55,870 want to get a lot of food out of it 269 00:13:01,600 --> 00:12:59,089 maybe when we go to the surface of Mars 270 00:13:03,429 --> 00:13:01,610 we'll have more space I think you have a 271 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:03,439 picture we can show of what a large 272 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:07,970 surface chamber might look like that 273 00:13:12,970 --> 00:13:10,370 that's something you know where we would 274 00:13:15,519 --> 00:13:12,980 love to have an ability to really grow 275 00:13:18,220 --> 00:13:15,529 enough food to supplement the diet for a 276 00:13:20,420 --> 00:13:18,230 crew that's living on Mars so this is an 277 00:13:22,730 --> 00:13:20,430 artist concept but it would 278 00:13:25,280 --> 00:13:22,740 a really exciting thing you know if we 279 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:25,290 can get to that point and we have to get 280 00:13:31,519 --> 00:13:29,250 to that point the prepared package diet 281 00:13:34,850 --> 00:13:31,529 and I think you have a video showing 282 00:13:36,530 --> 00:13:34,860 what the packaged diet looks like you 283 00:13:41,510 --> 00:13:36,540 know the astronauts that are eating this 284 00:13:44,960 --> 00:13:41,520 hey pre packed food they enjoy it 285 00:13:47,449 --> 00:13:44,970 meals are a really big deal in space all 286 00:13:50,150 --> 00:13:47,459 of the food is actually really good 287 00:13:52,670 --> 00:13:50,160 it gets very high ratings before it gets 288 00:13:56,360 --> 00:13:52,680 sent to space but everything has to be 289 00:14:00,800 --> 00:13:56,370 stabilized or freeze-dried they add 290 00:14:04,460 --> 00:14:00,810 water and you know that diet while 291 00:14:06,889 --> 00:14:04,470 really good may not be enough for 292 00:14:10,490 --> 00:14:06,899 something like a trip to Mars because 293 00:14:13,519 --> 00:14:10,500 when you store this food the vitamins 294 00:14:15,980 --> 00:14:13,529 and the quality degrade over time and 295 00:14:17,389 --> 00:14:15,990 that's not an issue on the international 296 00:14:20,510 --> 00:14:17,399 space station where they're getting new 297 00:14:22,699 --> 00:14:20,520 food every few months but for a trip to 298 00:14:24,890 --> 00:14:22,709 Mars that food may have to be sent ahead 299 00:14:28,490 --> 00:14:24,900 and may be sitting on the surface of 300 00:14:30,850 --> 00:14:28,500 Mars when they arrive for their return 301 00:14:33,140 --> 00:14:30,860 journey and if it doesn't have enough 302 00:14:35,510 --> 00:14:33,150 nutrition to meet the needs of the 303 00:14:38,630 --> 00:14:35,520 astronauts we have to figure out a way 304 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:38,640 to supplement that diet with fresh 305 00:14:43,550 --> 00:14:41,610 vegetables to provide that nutrition so 306 00:14:45,790 --> 00:14:43,560 that everybody can be safe and healthy 307 00:14:49,699 --> 00:14:45,800 for the trip to Mars in the journey home 308 00:14:51,170 --> 00:14:49,709 yeah I want to actually come back to 309 00:14:52,490 --> 00:14:51,180 something you mentioned Julia I would 310 00:14:54,350 --> 00:14:52,500 love to talk about citizen science a 311 00:14:55,550 --> 00:14:54,360 little bit trying if you are there I 312 00:14:57,320 --> 00:14:55,560 think you might have frozen on this for 313 00:14:59,180 --> 00:14:57,330 a second but I think your back if you 314 00:15:00,350 --> 00:14:59,190 could talk about some citizen science 315 00:15:01,850 --> 00:15:00,360 efforts I know that we have some really 316 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:01,860 cool collaborations with students across 317 00:15:06,019 --> 00:15:03,810 the country and then let's dive into 318 00:15:07,519 --> 00:15:06,029 this popcorn challenge because we want 319 00:15:08,690 --> 00:15:07,529 to deliver on that let people know how 320 00:15:11,750 --> 00:15:08,700 they can be growing plans from their 321 00:15:13,519 --> 00:15:11,760 popcorn at home so I just wanted to 322 00:15:15,319 --> 00:15:13,529 mention that you know joy talked about 323 00:15:17,930 --> 00:15:15,329 the the benefits and the reasons why 324 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:17,940 we're growing plants but you know since 325 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:19,170 you mentioned the technologies right 326 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:20,970 you've got to clean your food you need 327 00:15:25,220 --> 00:15:23,250 to be able to grow your food you know 328 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:25,230 and if the plants get sick well then you 329 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:26,730 need a way to detect that so there's a 330 00:15:31,490 --> 00:15:28,170 number of technologies that we're 331 00:15:33,470 --> 00:15:31,500 developing so the astronauts can go you 332 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:33,480 know do what they need to do on Mars all 333 00:15:36,559 --> 00:15:34,410 the science that we want 334 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:36,569 go do and hopefully you have robots and 335 00:15:39,769 --> 00:15:38,370 sensors helping the grow the plant and 336 00:15:41,509 --> 00:15:39,779 you know it's not just us there's 337 00:15:44,809 --> 00:15:41,519 actually people all around the country 338 00:15:46,699 --> 00:15:44,819 working on this and and part of the team 339 00:15:48,740 --> 00:15:46,709 helping us select crops and figure 340 00:15:53,030 --> 00:15:48,750 things out is you know the Fairchild 341 00:15:55,819 --> 00:15:53,040 challenge so we had this year I think 342 00:15:57,439 --> 00:15:55,829 more than 200 schools I'd have to check 343 00:15:58,819 --> 00:15:57,449 that but I think more than 200 middle 344 00:16:02,480 --> 00:15:58,829 school and high schools all across the 345 00:16:04,340 --> 00:16:02,490 country growing plans for it and you 346 00:16:06,350 --> 00:16:04,350 know the type of plants that we need 347 00:16:08,030 --> 00:16:06,360 right now are compact they need to 348 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:08,040 germinate reliably they need to grow 349 00:16:13,429 --> 00:16:11,730 fast and they need to be robust so you 350 00:16:16,519 --> 00:16:13,439 know you could think if the plant can 351 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:16,529 grow in 50 different classrooms and all 352 00:16:20,150 --> 00:16:17,930 these different conditions and 353 00:16:21,650 --> 00:16:20,160 microbiology kind of going on in these 354 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:21,660 different classrooms and that's probably 355 00:16:27,499 --> 00:16:24,810 a pretty robust plant and so we have 356 00:16:29,689 --> 00:16:27,509 just thousands of student citizen 357 00:16:31,369 --> 00:16:29,699 scientists across the country growing 358 00:16:35,150 --> 00:16:31,379 the plants collecting the data and 359 00:16:37,460 --> 00:16:35,160 cleaning it up and into you know Google 360 00:16:39,230 --> 00:16:37,470 Docs and what we along with the 361 00:16:42,319 --> 00:16:39,240 statistician at the Fairchild tropical 362 00:16:46,129 --> 00:16:42,329 garden get to look at the data and you 363 00:16:48,740 --> 00:16:46,139 know we actually flew plants that were 364 00:16:51,620 --> 00:16:48,750 first identified and tested by students 365 00:16:52,879 --> 00:16:51,630 and so for me it's so exciting to go 366 00:16:56,809 --> 00:16:52,889 look at Twitter because they're all 367 00:17:00,559 --> 00:16:56,819 posting on Twitter and I think it's at 368 00:17:02,150 --> 00:17:00,569 grow beyond Earth so there's part of the 369 00:17:04,010 --> 00:17:02,160 Fairchild tropical botanic garden 370 00:17:05,689 --> 00:17:04,020 thousands of student citizen science is 371 00:17:08,419 --> 00:17:05,699 helping us select the next set of crops 372 00:17:11,569 --> 00:17:08,429 and that was really really terrific and 373 00:17:13,610 --> 00:17:11,579 so you know I'm hoping that more people 374 00:17:16,130 --> 00:17:13,620 can figure out what you know how NASA do 375 00:17:18,079 --> 00:17:16,140 this and some of the plants were looking 376 00:17:20,419 --> 00:17:18,089 at are also known as micro greening and 377 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:20,429 microgreens are just young plants that 378 00:17:25,549 --> 00:17:22,770 you can grow and your grow them is along 379 00:17:28,069 --> 00:17:25,559 and they only take you know most of time 380 00:17:30,169 --> 00:17:28,079 about 10 10 to 20 days maybe at the 381 00:17:32,690 --> 00:17:30,179 longest and you can actually produce 382 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:32,700 quite a bit of food and the microgreens 383 00:17:37,610 --> 00:17:34,650 are actually typically more nutritious 384 00:17:39,919 --> 00:17:37,620 than two fully grown mature plant and 385 00:17:42,110 --> 00:17:39,929 actually I grow microgreens at home just 386 00:17:43,909 --> 00:17:42,120 for fun and with my kids and when we 387 00:17:47,180 --> 00:17:43,919 talked about the popcorn challenge I 388 00:17:48,110 --> 00:17:47,190 went and gave it a try and you know you 389 00:17:52,970 --> 00:17:48,120 can grow a plant 390 00:17:56,690 --> 00:17:52,980 Cornell was shocked yeah and I want to 391 00:17:59,240 --> 00:17:56,700 say too that the growing beyond Earth 392 00:18:00,860 --> 00:17:59,250 program that Fairchild track mentally 393 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:00,870 what we have these you know hundreds of 394 00:18:07,130 --> 00:18:04,410 school also has another component which 395 00:18:09,799 --> 00:18:07,140 will be announced via Twitter on 396 00:18:14,060 --> 00:18:09,809 Saturday through this NASA at home and 397 00:18:17,180 --> 00:18:14,070 that's to design a growth chamber so you 398 00:18:19,820 --> 00:18:17,190 anybody needs watching can design a 399 00:18:23,180 --> 00:18:19,830 plant growth chamber for space draw it 400 00:18:26,090 --> 00:18:23,190 out send a description in and we get 401 00:18:28,850 --> 00:18:26,100 ideas this way we've done this with 402 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:28,860 elementary school students and we've got 403 00:18:33,260 --> 00:18:31,050 some really amazing ideas and some of 404 00:18:35,419 --> 00:18:33,270 the concepts we've actually started 405 00:18:38,150 --> 00:18:35,429 building either at Kennedy Space Center 406 00:18:41,570 --> 00:18:38,160 or in the growing beyond Earth 407 00:18:44,510 --> 00:18:41,580 innovation studio to test out some of 408 00:18:46,490 --> 00:18:44,520 these really innovative concepts so we 409 00:18:48,350 --> 00:18:46,500 we need everybody to help with this 410 00:18:51,350 --> 00:18:48,360 there are a lot of challenges associated 411 00:18:53,360 --> 00:18:51,360 with with growing plants and in space 412 00:18:56,720 --> 00:18:53,370 and feeding our astronauts in the future 413 00:18:57,860 --> 00:18:56,730 so we really can use your help yeah so 414 00:18:59,299 --> 00:18:57,870 let's jump in here now 415 00:19:02,180 --> 00:18:59,309 so while you're thinking about the 416 00:19:03,470 --> 00:19:02,190 design for a plant growth chamber here's 417 00:19:05,270 --> 00:19:03,480 something you can be doing again as 418 00:19:07,130 --> 00:19:05,280 Trent mentioned you were talking about 419 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:07,140 you can have products here in seven to 420 00:19:17,870 --> 00:19:15,090 ten days so take a look at this most 421 00:19:20,540 --> 00:19:17,880 people have one hander right now we 422 00:19:23,120 --> 00:19:20,550 thought hey we could grow popcorn shoots 423 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:23,130 for this challenge you choose your 424 00:19:27,890 --> 00:19:26,010 container you calculate the area where 425 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:27,900 the plants are going to grow and then 426 00:19:33,560 --> 00:19:30,450 you count out the number of seeds that 427 00:19:34,700 --> 00:19:33,570 you want to grow in that area and once 428 00:19:37,580 --> 00:19:34,710 you've counted out your seats you're 429 00:19:39,220 --> 00:19:37,590 going to soak them for eight to twelve 430 00:19:41,289 --> 00:19:39,230 hours 431 00:19:45,700 --> 00:19:41,299 you're going to choose your substrate 432 00:19:47,830 --> 00:19:45,710 your soil paper towel sand whatever you 433 00:19:49,419 --> 00:19:47,840 want to go through then you're going to 434 00:19:50,740 --> 00:19:49,429 fill your container with that substrate 435 00:19:54,340 --> 00:19:50,750 you don't need much maybe just a 436 00:19:58,419 --> 00:19:54,350 centimeter then you add your water and 437 00:20:00,280 --> 00:19:58,429 then you add your wet seeds depending on 438 00:20:03,070 --> 00:20:00,290 the lighting conditions that you give 439 00:20:05,620 --> 00:20:03,080 them they can have a completely 440 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:05,630 different look and a totally different 441 00:20:19,930 --> 00:20:16,300 all right so just again kind of taking a 442 00:20:21,610 --> 00:20:19,940 a recap there so we're talking about 443 00:20:22,120 --> 00:20:21,620 popcorn that you can find in your 444 00:20:23,980 --> 00:20:22,130 cupboard 445 00:20:26,620 --> 00:20:23,990 whether it be kind of a bottle of just 446 00:20:28,570 --> 00:20:26,630 kernels or Trenton joy I think we said 447 00:20:31,390 --> 00:20:28,580 that you can you you you could cut open 448 00:20:33,310 --> 00:20:31,400 a bag of microwave popcorn and try it I 449 00:20:36,250 --> 00:20:33,320 think the results will be mixed but you 450 00:20:39,190 --> 00:20:36,260 could use even that yeah I don't see why 451 00:20:41,130 --> 00:20:39,200 not yeah and I want to thank Christina 452 00:20:43,660 --> 00:20:41,140 Johnson our wonderful NASA postdoctoral 453 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:43,670 fellow and her children for putting 454 00:20:54,010 --> 00:20:47,450 together that amazing video but yeah you 455 00:20:56,860 --> 00:20:54,020 know as long as their uncle's cool so 456 00:20:59,050 --> 00:20:56,870 we're gonna post more details on on 457 00:21:01,030 --> 00:20:59,060 Twitter and other social media platforms 458 00:21:02,710 --> 00:21:01,040 to kind of allow you to know what you 459 00:21:05,020 --> 00:21:02,720 need to do but again it's really pretty 460 00:21:06,730 --> 00:21:05,030 simple there it's pulling the kernels 461 00:21:08,650 --> 00:21:06,740 finding a container to put them in 462 00:21:10,930 --> 00:21:08,660 having something to plant them in now 463 00:21:12,820 --> 00:21:10,940 just excuse me Christina mentioned a few 464 00:21:13,960 --> 00:21:12,830 different things and I'm sure there's a 465 00:21:18,310 --> 00:21:13,970 lot more creative things you can come up 466 00:21:19,480 --> 00:21:18,320 with women mention st. soil sand we 467 00:21:20,980 --> 00:21:19,490 talked to I think she mentioned even 468 00:21:28,210 --> 00:21:20,990 just paper towels just laying them on 469 00:21:29,980 --> 00:21:28,220 paper towels that works right I was 470 00:21:33,070 --> 00:21:29,990 gonna mention that I just did it on felt 471 00:21:36,070 --> 00:21:33,080 you can do it on a towel as long as the 472 00:21:38,230 --> 00:21:36,080 sub street and hold water it will allow 473 00:21:40,030 --> 00:21:38,240 the the kernel to germinate and the 474 00:21:41,950 --> 00:21:40,040 kernel has a lot of energy in it so 475 00:21:43,570 --> 00:21:41,960 actually you can grow them in the dark 476 00:21:45,370 --> 00:21:43,580 so they don't you go give them any 477 00:21:46,540 --> 00:21:45,380 photosynthesis and they're gonna go 478 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:46,550 looking for the light and they're 479 00:21:50,710 --> 00:21:48,410 converting a lot of the sugar into the 480 00:21:52,630 --> 00:21:50,720 stock so actually if you grow them in 481 00:21:55,210 --> 00:21:52,640 light or dark it will change the flavor 482 00:21:58,570 --> 00:21:55,220 and it's pretty it's pretty interesting 483 00:22:00,580 --> 00:21:58,580 I would recommend that you uh they need 484 00:22:03,910 --> 00:22:00,590 not eat it because I grew a lot of other 485 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:03,920 stuff with my kernels but you know it's 486 00:22:08,290 --> 00:22:06,290 a part of an experiment I guess yeah 487 00:22:10,120 --> 00:22:08,300 we're encouraging everyone if you worked 488 00:22:12,130 --> 00:22:10,130 in a lab whether it be in grade school 489 00:22:13,990 --> 00:22:12,140 or otherwise you know that eating your 490 00:22:15,310 --> 00:22:14,000 experiments is not generally a wise 491 00:22:17,620 --> 00:22:15,320 thing so we're encouraging folks to not 492 00:22:19,180 --> 00:22:17,630 eat those products you can send us 493 00:22:21,250 --> 00:22:19,190 actually send us your photos and your 494 00:22:24,100 --> 00:22:21,260 data NASA at home there in the video 495 00:22:25,870 --> 00:22:24,110 also there on screen now enjoy a trip 496 00:22:27,370 --> 00:22:25,880 final thoughts from you all just what 497 00:22:27,670 --> 00:22:27,380 are you looking forward to the most in 498 00:22:28,990 --> 00:22:27,680 the next 499 00:22:33,820 --> 00:22:29,000 five to ten years when it comes to 500 00:22:39,610 --> 00:22:33,830 plants and NASA and exploration well for 501 00:22:42,070 --> 00:22:39,620 me I think it'll be you know something I 502 00:22:44,110 --> 00:22:42,080 haven't seen in my lifetime and I'm 503 00:22:47,140 --> 00:22:44,120 really excited to have people on the 504 00:22:50,490 --> 00:22:47,150 moon again the first woman and the next 505 00:22:53,950 --> 00:22:50,500 man and hopefully they'll be grown class 506 00:23:00,280 --> 00:22:53,960 yeah I just I want to echo what joyeux 507 00:23:02,860 --> 00:23:00,290 said you know I can't wait to see the 508 00:23:05,590 --> 00:23:02,870 crews on the moon growing plants for 509 00:23:07,270 --> 00:23:05,600 nutrition and just being part of the 510 00:23:09,060 --> 00:23:07,280 team that helps make it happen that's 511 00:23:11,140 --> 00:23:09,070 what I'm really looking forward to 512 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:11,150 awesome we'll enjoy a trip thanks to 513 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:13,610 both of you a quick plug for everybody 514 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:15,170 out there we're gonna be posting 515 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:16,970 additional social media content over the 516 00:23:19,930 --> 00:23:18,530 course of the next 10 days and then 517 00:23:22,390 --> 00:23:19,940 we'll come back again with a couple more 518 00:23:24,850 --> 00:23:22,400 folks from the plant life sciences area 519 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:24,860 and kind of talk about the before and 520 00:23:29,620 --> 00:23:27,770 after of this project so again joy and 521 00:23:31,300 --> 00:23:29,630 Trent thank you to you both and look