Chili peppers have been harvested in space for the first time. And some of it was directly processed by the astronauts into what they call “the best space taco” ever.

At the end of last week, astronaut Mark vandeHei had the honor of harvesting the very first space-grown chili peppers. Some of the chiles must later be returned to Earth for analysis. But the rest the astronauts were allowed to eat themselves. And they didn’t let themselves be told that twice. They processed the red and green chiles intended for them into a real ‘space taco’ that was further filled with meat, rehydrated tomatoes and artichokes. According to astronaut Megan McArthur, it resulted in the best space tacos ever.

Astronaut Megan McArthur with her ‘space taco’. Image: Megan McArthur.

Challenging experiment

Harvesting the chili peppers has ended one of the most challenging planting experiments conducted on the International Space Station to date, according to NASA. It is not the first time that astronauts grow crops in space and then eat them. Since 2015, astronauts on the ISS have grown and then eaten about ten different crops (such as lettuce and radishes). But where lettuce, for example, can be harvested relatively quickly, the situation is very different for chili peppers. The pepper plant has to grow for about four months before the fruits can be harvested. “It is one of the most complex plant experiments conducted on the International Space Station to date, due to its long germination and growth time,” study researcher Matt Romeyn said.

Research

The chili peppers were sown in July 2021 in a habitat specially developed for use in space. And so it was finally possible to harvest this weekend. Some of the harvest will later return to the earth. There, the nutritional value of the peppers will be compared with that of peppers grown on the ground. This will include measuring how much capsaicin the peppers contain. Capsaicin is the chemical that makes peppers so spicy. The measurements should show whether the spiciness of peppers grown in space differs. This does not seem inconceivable, because it is already known that the taste and texture of the peppers can change in response to the environment in which the mother plant grows. And the combination of limited gravity, slightly different temperature and light quality experienced by the mother plants in the ISS may also result in a slightly different taste sensation. In addition to the measurements on Earth, the astronauts who tasted the chili peppers in the ISS are also asked what they think. Among other things, they will assess the taste and texture of the red peppers.

Future Missions

It is certainly a very important study with a view to future space missions to the moon and Mars. During these longer missions further away from Earth, astronauts will have to grow their own fresh food. During the experiments in the International Space Station, the knowledge and experience necessary for this is gained. In addition to vegetables that can form a large part of a meal on their own (such as lettuce), we also look at seasonings, such as chili peppers. And that is a very conscious choice. It is known that astronauts in space – due to the limited gravity – sometimes have a temporary loss of smell and taste and therefore develop a preference for spicy or strongly seasoned meals. A chili pepper will come in handy. The fact that these are also very healthy is of course a plus: they are very rich in vitamin C and other important nutrients. And then there is also the psychological effect, Romeyn explained earlier. “Growing colorful vegetables in space can have major long-term benefits for physical and psychological health. We have found that growing plants and vegetables with colors and scents improves astronauts’ well-being.”

Astronauts don’t have to go hungry in the absence of fresh vegetables. They can rely on all kinds of packages and bags. And they also provide variety and the nutrients the astronauts need. But fresh vegetables with their unique texture, taste and natural vitamins are a valuable addition. Especially during long space travel. Moreover, during long space travel or missions, astronauts have something to do with growing their food. It gives them purpose. And that is also very important psychologically.

It is now clear that it is possible to grow vegetables in space. The challenge now is to expand the number of crops proven to thrive in space. And also to look at what is possible on the surface of Mars, for example. The latter is also heavily researched in the Netherlands; for example, Wageningen researchers grow all kinds of crops on simulated Martian soil. With success, researcher Wieger Wamelink told earlier Scientias.nl.