John Wetzel, a program manager at Sierra Space, initially expressed concerns regarding the growth of plants in a zero-gravity environment.

Research indicates that plant growth in space can be as efficient as on Earth, with crops maturing from seed to harvest in approximately 28 days.

Currently, astronauts aboard the International Space Station utilize Sierra Space's technology to grow vegetables, occasionally incorporating their harvest into their diet.

The overarching goal of this research is to establish reliable methods for growing crops that can sustain astronauts on extended missions and potentially support future colonies on other planets.

Despite extensive research over the decades, many questions about space agriculture remain unanswered, necessitating ongoing experiments and communication with astronauts.

The research division in Madison is the smallest within Sierra Space, which employs around 270 people focused on developing technologies for life support in space.

Sierra Space, headquartered in Madison, is pioneering research on cultivating vegetables in zero gravity to support long-term space missions.

However, space gardening presents unique challenges, including managing water without gravity, recycling resources, and controlling light and temperature.

The Astro Garden is specifically designed to provide a daily salad for a four-person crew, featuring crops such as daikon radishes and spicy greens.

Their innovative plant-growing system, known as Astro Garden, employs a technique that directly sprays water on the roots, minimizing the risks associated with traditional substrate methods.

Much of the funding for this plant research comes from NASA, which also supports the development of Sierra Space's Dream Chaser space plane.

Leading the plant research is principal scientist Bob Morrow, who has been involved in space agriculture since his studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the 1980s.