(iss065e163671) July 12, 2021 --- NASA astronaut and Expedition 65 Flight Engineer Shane Kimbrough inserts a device called a science carrier into the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH), which contains 48 Hatch chile pepper seeds NASA started growing on July 12, 2021 as part of the Plant Habitat-04 experiment. Astronauts on station and a team of researchers at Kennedy will work together to monitor the peppers’ growth for about four months before harvesting them. This will be one of the longest and most challenging plant experiments attempted aboard the orbital lab.

(iss065e163668) July 12, 2021 --- NASA astronaut and Expedition 65 Flight Engineer Shane Kimbrough inserts a device called a science carrier into the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH), which contains 48 Hatch chile pepper seeds NASA started growing on July 12, 2021 as part of the Plant Habitat-04 experiment. Astronauts on station and a team of researchers at Kennedy will work together to monitor the peppers’ growth for about four months before harvesting them. This will be one of the longest and most challenging plant experiments attempted aboard the orbital lab.

Jason Fischer (left), a research scientist, and Lashelle Spencer, a plant scientist, with the Laboratory Support Services and Operations contract at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, harvest peppers from pepper plants on Jan. 15, 2020, that were grown in the Space Station Processing Facility for a growth assessment test in preparation for sending them to space. As NASA prepares to send humans beyond low-Earth orbit, the ability for astronauts to grow a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in space will be critical. Fresh produce will be an essential supplement to the crew’s pre-packaged diet during long-duration space exploration when they are away from Earth for extended periods of time.

Research scientists at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida are preparing to weigh peppers grown inside the Space Station Processing Facility on Jan. 15, 2020, during a growth assessment in preparation for sending them to space. Scientists waited until the peppers were red, or nearly all red, before harvesting them. Fresh produce will be an essential supplement to the pre-packaged diet for astronauts during long-duration space exploration when they are away from Earth for extended periods of time.

Inside the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, peppers are harvested on Jan. 15, 2020, for a growth assessment in preparation for sending them to space. As NASA prepares to send humans beyond low-Earth orbit, the ability for astronauts to grow a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in space will be critical. Fresh produce will be an essential supplement to the crew’s pre-packaged diet during long-duration space exploration when they are away from Earth for extended periods of time.

Researchers are growing green peppers inside the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 15, 2020, in preparation for sending them to space. As NASA prepares to send humans beyond low-Earth orbit, the ability for astronauts to grow a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in space will be critical. Fresh produce will be an essential supplement to the crew’s pre-packaged diet during long-duration space exploration when they are away from Earth for extended periods of time.

Plant Scientist Lashelle Spencer (left) and Research Scientist Jason Fischer with the Laboratory Support Services and Operations contract at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida remove the stems from peppers that were grown inside the Space Station Processing Facility on Jan. 15, 2020, prior to weighing them in preparation for sending them to space. As NASA prepares to send humans beyond low-Earth orbit, the ability for astronauts to grow a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in space will be critical. Fresh produce will be an essential supplement to the crew’s pre-packaged diet during long-duration space exploration when they are away from Earth for extended periods of time.

Researchers are growing green peppers inside the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 15, 2020, in preparation for sending them to space. As NASA prepares to send humans beyond low-Earth orbit, the ability for astronauts to grow a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in space will be critical. Fresh produce will be an essential supplement to the crew’s pre-packaged diet during long-duration space exploration when they are away from Earth for extended periods of time.

Researchers are growing green peppers inside the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 15, 2020, in preparation for sending them to space. As NASA prepares to send humans beyond low-Earth orbit, the ability for astronauts to grow a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in space will be critical. Fresh produce will be an essential supplement to the crew’s pre-packaged diet during long-duration space exploration when they are away from Earth for extended periods of time.

Lashelle Spencer, a plant scientist with the Laboratory Support Services and Operations contract at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, observes and documents the growth of peppers after harvesting them on Jan. 15, 2020, inside the Space Station Processing Facility. As NASA prepares to send humans beyond low-Earth orbit, the ability for astronauts to grow a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in space will be critical. Fresh produce will be an essential supplement to the crew’s pre-packaged diet during long-duration space exploration when they are away from Earth for extended periods of time.

Jason Fischer (left), a research scientist, and Lashelle Spencer, a plant scientist, with the Laboratory Support Services and Operations contract at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, observe and document the growth of pepper plants prior to harvesting them on Jan. 15, 2020, inside the Space Station Processing Facility in preparation for sending them to space. As NASA prepares to send humans beyond low-Earth orbit, the ability for astronauts to grow a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in space will be critical. Fresh produce will be an essential supplement to the crew’s pre-packaged diet during long-duration space exploration when they are away from Earth for extended periods of time.

Jason Fischer, a research scientist with the Laboratory Support Services and Operations contract at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, weighs peppers that were harvested from inside the Space Station Processing Facility on Jan. 15, 2020, prior to weighing them in preparation for sending them to space. As NASA prepares to send humans beyond low-Earth orbit, the ability for astronauts to grow a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in space will be critical. Fresh produce will be an essential supplement to the crew’s pre-packaged diet during long-duration space exploration when they are away from Earth for extended periods of time.

Researchers are growing green peppers inside the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 15, 2020, in preparation for sending them to space. As NASA prepares to send humans beyond low-Earth orbit, the ability for astronauts to grow a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in space will be critical. Fresh produce will be an essential supplement to the crew’s pre-packaged diet during long-duration space exploration when they are away from Earth for extended periods of time.

Peppers that were grown and harvested inside the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida are weighed on Jan. 15, 2020, in preparation for sending them to space. As NASA prepares to send humans beyond low-Earth orbit, the ability for astronauts to grow a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in space will be critical. Fresh produce will be an essential supplement to the crew’s pre-packaged diet during long-duration space exploration when they are away from Earth for extended periods of time.

Jason Fischer (left), a research scientist, and Lashelle Spencer, a plant scientist, with the Laboratory Support Services and Operations contract at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, observe and document the growth of pepper plants prior to harvesting them on Jan. 15, 2020, inside the Space Station Processing in preparation for sending them to space. As NASA prepares to send humans beyond low-Earth orbit, the ability for astronauts to grow a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in space will be critical. Fresh produce will be an essential supplement to the crew’s pre-packaged diet during long-duration space exploration when they are away from Earth for extended periods of time.

Jason Fischer (left), a research scientist, and Lashelle Spencer, a plant scientist, with the Laboratory Support Services and Operations contract at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, harvest peppers from pepper plants on Jan. 15, 2020, that were grown in the Space Station Processing Facility for a growth assessment in preparation for sending them to space. As NASA prepares to send humans beyond low-Earth orbit, the ability for astronauts to grow a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in space will be critical. Fresh produce will be an essential supplement to the crew’s pre-packaged diet during long-duration space exploration when they are away from Earth for extended periods of time.

Researchers are growing green peppers inside the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 15, 2020, in preparation for sending them to space. As NASA prepares to send humans beyond low-Earth orbit, the ability for astronauts to grow a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in space will be critical. Fresh produce will be an essential supplement to the crew’s pre-packaged diet during long-duration space exploration when they are away from Earth for extended periods of time.

Jason Fischer, a research scientist with the Laboratory Support Services and Operations contract at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, observes and documents the growth of peppers prior to harvesting them on Jan. 15, 2020, inside the Space Station Processing Facility in preparation for sending them to space. As NASA prepares to send humans beyond low-Earth orbit, the ability for astronauts to grow a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in space will be critical. Fresh produce will be an essential supplement to the crew’s pre-packaged diet during long-duration space exploration when they are away from Earth for extended periods of time.

On Jan. 15, 2020, Jason Fischer, a research scientist with the Laboratory Support Services and Operations contract at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, prepares to weigh peppers that were grown and harvested inside the Space Station Processing Facility in preparation for sending them to space. As NASA prepares to send humans beyond low-Earth orbit, the ability for astronauts to grow a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in space will be critical. Fresh produce will be an essential supplement to the crew’s pre-packaged diet during long-duration space exploration when they are away from Earth for extended periods of time.

Researchers are growing green peppers inside the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 15, 2020, in preparation for sending them to space. As NASA prepares to send humans beyond low-Earth orbit, the ability for astronauts to grow a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in space will be critical. Fresh produce will be an essential supplement to the crew’s pre-packaged diet during long-duration space exploration when they are away from Earth for extended periods of time.

Lashelle Spencer (center), a plant scientist with the Laboratory Support Services and Operations contract at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, harvests peppers from a pepper plant on Jan. 15, 2020, that was grown in the Space Station Processing Facility in preparation for sending them to space. As NASA prepares to send humans beyond low-Earth orbit, the ability for astronauts to grow a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in space will be critical. Fresh produce will be an essential supplement to the crew’s pre-packaged diet during long-duration space exploration when they are away from Earth for extended periods of time.

Researchers are growing green peppers inside the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 15, 2020, in preparation for sending them to space. As NASA prepares to send humans beyond low-Earth orbit, the ability for astronauts to grow a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in space will be critical. Fresh produce will be an essential supplement to the crew’s pre-packaged diet during long-duration space exploration when they are away from Earth for extended periods of time.

Researchers are growing green peppers inside the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 15, 2020, in preparation for sending them to space. As NASA prepares to send humans beyond low-Earth orbit, the ability for astronauts to grow a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in space will be critical. Fresh produce will be an essential supplement to the crew’s pre-packaged diet during long-duration space exploration when they are away from Earth for extended periods of time.

Researchers are growing green peppers inside the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 15, 2020, in preparation for sending them to space. As NASA prepares to send humans beyond low-Earth orbit, the ability for astronauts to grow a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables in space will be critical. Fresh produce will be an essential supplement to the crew’s pre-packaged diet during long-duration space exploration when they are away from Earth for extended periods of time.

iss065e434036 (9/30/2021) --- Hatch Green Chile plants are pictured growing in the Advanced Plant Habitat aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The Microgravity Growth of New Mexico Hatch Green Chile as a Technical Display of Advanced Plant Habitat’s Capabilities (Plant Habitat-04) demonstrates using the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) by growing peppers in space for the first time.

iss065e434054 (9/30/2021) --- Hatch Green Chile plants are pictured growing in the Advanced Plant Habitat aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The Microgravity Growth of New Mexico Hatch Green Chile as a Technical Display of Advanced Plant Habitat’s Capabilities (Plant Habitat-04) demonstrates using the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) by growing peppers in space for the first time.

Hatch Green Chile plants are pictured growing in the Advanced Plant Habitat aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The Microgravity Growth of New Mexico Hatch Green Chile as a Technical Display of Advanced Plant Habitat’s Capabilities (Plant Habitat-04) demonstrates using the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) by growing peppers in space for the first time.

iss065e235366 (8/10/2021) --- Hatch Green Chile plants are pictured growing in the Advanced Plant Habitat aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The Microgravity Growth of New Mexico Hatch Green Chile as a Technical Display of Advanced Plant Habitat’s Capabilities (Plant Habitat-04) demonstrates using the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) by growing peppers in space for the first time.

iss065e235367 (8/10/2021) --- Hatch Green Chile plants are pictured growing in the Advanced Plant Habitat aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The Microgravity Growth of New Mexico Hatch Green Chile as a Technical Display of Advanced Plant Habitat’s Capabilities (Plant Habitat-04) demonstrates using the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) by growing peppers in space for the first time.

(iss065e163669) July 12, 2021 --- NASA astronaut and Expedition 65 Flight Engineer Shane Kimbrough inserts a device called a science carrier into the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH), which contains 48 Hatch chili pepper seeds NASA started growing on July 12, 2021 as part of the Plant Habitat-04 experiment. Astronauts on station and a team of researchers at Kennedy will work together to monitor the peppers’ growth for about four months before harvesting them. This will be one of the longest and most challenging plant experiments attempted aboard the orbital lab.

A researcher from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida prepares pepper seeds for planting inside science carriers on April 8, 2021, inside the Space Life Sciences Lab for the Plant Habitat-04 (PH-04) experiment. The seeds will fly to the International Space Station on SpaceX’s 22nd Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-22) mission. When the experiment starts, astronauts will grow the pepper seeds in the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) growth chamber, which will monitor the experiment with more than 180 sensors. The astronauts will observe plant growth for about four months and conduct two harvests to study whether microgravity affects growth, flavor, or texture. Since peppers take longer to germinate, grow, and develop than previous crops grown in space, the PH-04 experiment also will test the durability and reliability of the various systems within the APH.

Inside the Space Life Sciences Lab at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, researchers plant pepper seeds in a science carrier on April 8, 2021, in preparation for the Plant Habitat-04 (PH-04) experiment. The seeds will fly to the International Space Station on SpaceX’s 22nd Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-22) mission. When the experiment starts, astronauts will grow the pepper seeds in the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) growth chamber, which will monitor the experiment with more than 180 sensors. The astronauts will observe plant growth for about four months and conduct two harvests to study whether microgravity affects growth, flavor, or texture. Since peppers take longer to germinate, grow, and develop than previous crops grown in space, the PH-04 experiment also will test the durability and reliability of the various systems within the APH.

Inside the Space Life Sciences Lab at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a researcher plants pepper seeds in science carriers on April 8, 2021, in preparation for the Plant Habitat-04 (PH-04) experiment. The seeds will fly to the International Space Station on SpaceX’s 22nd Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-22) mission. When the experiment starts, astronauts will grow the pepper seeds in the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) growth chamber, which will monitor the experiment with more than 180 sensors. The astronauts will observe plant growth for about four months and conduct two harvests to study whether microgravity affects growth, flavor, or texture. Since peppers take longer to germinate, grow, and develop than previous crops grown in space, the PH-04 experiment also will test the durability and reliability of the various systems within the APH.

A researcher from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida prepares pepper seeds for planting inside science carriers on April 8, 2021, inside the Space Life Sciences Lab for the Plant Habitat-04 (PH-04) experiment. The seeds will fly to the International Space Station on SpaceX’s 22nd Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-22) mission. When the experiment starts, astronauts will grow the pepper seeds in the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) growth chamber, which will monitor the experiment with more than 180 sensors. The astronauts will observe plant growth for about four months and conduct two harvests to study whether microgravity affects growth, flavor, or texture. Since peppers take longer to germinate, grow, and develop than previous crops grown in space, the PH-04 experiment also will test the durability and reliability of the various systems within the APH.

A researcher from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida prepares pepper seeds for planting inside science carriers on April 8, 2021, inside the Space Life Sciences Lab for the Plant Habitat-04 (PH-04) experiment. The seeds will fly to the International Space Station on SpaceX’s 22nd Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-22) mission. When the experiment starts, astronauts will grow the pepper seeds in the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) growth chamber, which will monitor the experiment with more than 180 sensors. The astronauts will observe plant growth for about four months and conduct two harvests to study whether microgravity affects growth, flavor, or texture. Since peppers take longer to germinate, grow, and develop than previous crops grown in space, the PH-04 experiment also will test the durability and reliability of the various systems within the APH.

A close-up photo of a pepper seed prepared by researchers at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida is shown before it’s planted inside a science carrier on April 8, 2021, inside the Space Life Sciences Lab for the Plant Habitat-04 (PH-04) experiment. The seeds will fly to the International Space Station on SpaceX’s 22nd Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-22) mission. When the experiment starts, astronauts will grow the pepper seeds in the Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) growth chamber, which will monitor the experiment with more than 180 sensors. The astronauts will observe plant growth for about four months and conduct two harvests to study whether microgravity affects growth, flavor, or texture. Since peppers take longer to germinate, grow, and develop than previous crops grown in space, the PH-04 experiment also will test the durability and reliability of the various systems within the APH.