Jessica Meir and Anil Menon have been growing Red Russian kale and Wasabi mustard greens on board the International Space Station.
The NASA’s ISS Gardens / VEG-03 MNO experiment during Expedition 75. space botany study takes place in the Kibo laboratory module and explores how to grow crops on the lunar and Martian surface to feed future crews.
In 2026, NASA’s Space Crops program focuses heavily on the VEG-03 MNO (ISS Gardens) study, which allows astronauts the unique freedom to select and casually grow plants of their choice outside of enclosed research facilities. The specific plants NASA is cultivating on the International Space Station to support these initiatives include: Leafy Greens & Mustard Cultivars: Wasabi mustard greens, Red Russian Kale and Dragoon lettuce
Astrobiology, space biology,
