News Planetary Science

Astronauts might be able to use asteroid soil to grow crops

Lettuce, chili pepper and radish plants grew in mixtures of faux asteroid dirt and peat moss

a black container of dark faux asteroid soil and peat moss, held by a man wearing a gray shirt and jeans. There is a tiny chili pepper seedling poking through the dirt

Astrobiologist Steven Russell holds a container of faux asteroid soil and peat moss, with a chili pepper seedling peeking through.

Mike Hess/UND Today

By Liz Kruesi

- More than 2 years ago

Astronauts might one day dine on salad grown in asteroid soil.