Astronaut Anil Menon turns farmer in space, harvests kale and wasabi mustard

Anil Menon and Jessica Meir harvested kale and wasabi mustard on the ISS and cooked a meal with the fresh greens. The exercise advanced Nasa's efforts to develop reliable food supplies for long-duration space missions.The harvest was made possible through Nasa's Veggie plant growth system, a project designed to study how crops can be grown in microgravity. (Photo: Anil Menon/X)Indian-origin Nasa astronaut Anil Menon has added a new role to his growing list of accomplishments in space, that of a farmer.Menon recently shared a video from the International Space Station (ISS) showing him and fellow astronaut Jessica Meir harvesting and preparing a meal using fresh kale and wasabi mustard greens grown aboard the orbiting laboratory.The vegetables were cultivated over the course of a month as part of Nasa's ongoing efforts to develop sustainable food production systems for future deep-space missions.In the video, titled "Chez ISS, Cooking on Space Station with Jessica and Anil," the astronauts showcased a true “farm-to-table” experience in orbit. After harvesting several leaves from the space-grown crops, the duo used them to prepare a meal that Menon described as possibly the best food they had cooked on the station so far. The harvest was made possible through Nasa's Veggie plant growth system, a project designed to study how crops can be grown in microgravity.Scientists believe that growing fresh food in space will be crucial for future long-duration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. “Thanks to the Nasa Veggie team for guiding us through the growth process and providing simple skills that could help provide food for future space travel,” Menon said while sharing the video.The successful cultivation of kale and wasabi mustard demonstrates how astronauts can supplement packaged food with fresh produce, improving both nutrition and morale during extended missions. Fresh vegetables provide essential vitamins and antioxidants that can degrade in stored food over time.Space agriculture has become an increasingly important area of research as agencies prepare for missions that could keep astronauts away from Earth for months or even years.Growing food in space could reduce dependence on supply missions while helping crews maintain physical and mental well-being.Menon also jokingly referenced fictional astronaut-farmer Mark Watney, the protagonist of The Martian, saying, “Mark Watney would be proud.”The harvest highlights how astronauts are no longer just explorers and scientists in orbit, they are increasingly becoming gardeners and farmers, testing technologies that may one day help humans live and work far beyond Earth.- EndsPublished By: Sibu Kumar TripathiPublished On: Aug 18, 2026 13:51 IST