A Low Earth Orbit CubeSat for tomato ideotype cultivation
The autonomous production of nutrients and oxygen in space is a challenge for future human space exploration. In every mission scenario, a significant cost- and mass-saving issue is represented by recycling resources, plants could easily take charge of this process. By photosynthesis, plants can absorb carbon dioxide and consume crew waste to generate oxygen, fresh nutrients and clean water. However, no plants were adapted to space environment and no specific ideotype exists.