This is an exciting new beginning for exploring the unexplored on other planets. On Jan. 16, 2016, Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly shared photographs of a blooming zinnia flower in the Veggie plant growth system aboard the International Space Station. Kelly wrote, “Yes, there are other life forms in space“.
This experiment began on Nov. 16, 2015, when NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren started the Veggie system and its rooting “pillows” containing zinnia seeds.
This challenging experiment of growing the zinnias provided an exceptional opportunity for scientists back on Earth to better understand how plants grow in microgravity, and for astronauts to practice doing what they’ll be tasked with on a deep space mission: autonomous gardening.