Hatch Chile Pepper Assessment and Harvest

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.

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.

Photographer NASA/Ben Smegelsky
Location SSPF