NASA selected new research for space crop production and health

The space agency has selected 12 new research initiatives designed to support humans in spaceflight. Of these, six projects focus on developing food production skills off Earth. These works received support through Space Crops grants and are aimed at assisting in the exploration of the Moon and Mars, as well as improving the quality of life of astronauts using plants.

Four proposals on space crops study edible plants: how their growth, physiology, and associated microbial communities are affected by the conditions of space or other planets. Another study is dedicated to "resurrection plants" and the mechanisms that allow them to endure severe drought. The final proposal on plant cultivation continues previous work on the International Space Station and investigates the functions of algal genes whose expression changes during spaceflight.

The second group of six projects belongs to the precision medicine direction of the Biological and Physical Sciences Division. One of them investigates the impact of lunar dust on the respiratory and immune systems and inflammatory processes. Another identifies broad-spectrum medications capable of mitigating the impact of space travel on health.

Two more projects study the effects of radiation combined with other stressors on the age-related characteristics of organs and systems. The final two works assess changes at the molecular and cellular levels caused by space stressors and altering gene expression or protein function. The obtained data will help reduce health risks for the crew and create early warning systems for potential threats.

The research is led by principal investigators from 10 institutions representing eight states. Nine grant recipients are funded by the Space Biology Program for the first time. In total, over 7 million dollars in grants are planned to be awarded during fiscal years 2026–2030. The funding was allocated following proposal submissions to the ROSES-2024 competition: Program Element E.9: Space Biology Research Studies (NNH24ZDA001N-SBR).