Space Crop Production

The goal of this research is to help develop optimized space crop production systems for future NASA exploration missions. Research may investigate plant growth responses to ventilation, LED lighting, nutrient recipes, and water delivery methods for application in microgravity or partial gravity. New crops for space will be explored. Research may also address plant/microbial interactions and food safety implications. Project may involve interacting with students and teachers in STEM engagement activities related to space crop production. Other research areas that may be involved include chemical analysis, molecular biology and sequencing technology, bioinformatics, robotics, 3-D printing materials testing, and sensors for control systems. Projects will reference crop growth in controlled environmental conditions and hardware relevant to NASA's Veggie and Advanced Plant Habitat growth chambers for the International Space Station and future food production systems. Intern may interact with space crop production, microbiology, molecular biology and chemistry team members as well as stakeholder groups touring KSC. Project may also explore bioinformatics data bases and lunar/Martian simulated regolith. Remote aspects of internship may involve reviewing the literature, analyzing data, writing user guides, updating space crop roadmaps and gaps lists, developing documents, manuscripts, or proposals, and communication with stakeholders, students, teachers and the general public.

**Eligible Applicants:** Student and Educator
**Academic Level:** Undergraduate Sophomore, Undergraduate Junior, Undergraduate Senior, Graduate Master's, Graduate Doctoral, Post Doctoral
**Activity Type:** In-person
**Citizenship:** US Citizen Only
**Type:** Internships