Space Life Science

Offworld Life Science: Rhodium Science Chambers On ISS

By Keith Cowing

Status Report

NASA

August 22, 2024

Filed under Fungi, Microgravity, mushroom, mycelia, Rhodium Microgravity Mycelium investigation, space biology

Offworld Life Science: Rhodium Science Chambers On ISS — iss071e439621 Date Created:2024-08-07 Larger image

Rhodium science chambers are pictured prior to storage in an ambient locker location aboard the International Space Station. The Swinburne Youth Space Innovation Challenge 2023 Examining Mushroom Growth in Microgravity, or Rhodium Microgravity Mycelium investigation, tests the growth rates of mycelia, the root structures of mushrooms, in space.

Microgravity can alter the growth rates of other organisms and understanding how it affects mycelium growth rate and biomass production could provide insight into growth characteristics of fungi.

Mushrooms have recognized nutritional value and results could lead to more efficient mushroom growth and new strains of mushrooms as potential food sources for space travel and for research on Earth.

iss071e439621 Date Created:2024-08-07 Larger image

iss071e439623 Date Created:2024-08-07 larger image

Astrobiology, space biology,

Keith Cowing

Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA Space Station Payload manager/space biologist, Away Teams, Journalist, Lapsed climber, Synaesthete, Na’Vi-Jedi-Freman-Buddhist-mix, ASL, Devon Island and Everest Base Camp veteran, (he/him) 🖖🏻

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