UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi spent some of his penultimate weekend farming in space when he harvested leaves from the plant nursery aboard the orbiting outpost.
Astronauts on the International Space Station grow different kinds of fruits and vegetables, which are then harvested and sent back to scientists on the ground for testing.
Dr. Al Neyadi, 42, recently posted a video of the Advanced Plant Habitat nursery on social media. "This is the designated area where numerous fruits and vegetables undergo testing and cultivation," he said.
"I've gathered a handful of leaves to serve as test samples for examination once sent to Earth. The scientists back on our home planet will analyze these samples to understand how microgravity affects plant growth." The Advanced Plant Habitat has a lighting system that changes intensity so the plants stay healthy.
Read more at thenationalnews.com