# @aglifesciences on Facebook

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.facebook.com/1455185766647807/posts/908252274674495
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/65666938-aglifesciences-facebook
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/6a2b8fba7b.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-07-20T15:00:35.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Mamie Hertel (@mamie_hertel) — https://gondola.cc/mamie_hertel

## Caption

From moon dust to moon soil, Martian landscapes to thriving greenhouses, the future of space travel depends on agriculture! Researchers throughout the College are tackling challenges to feeding astronauts and finding unique ways to grow food in the most challenging environments yet. 🚀 

The Texas A&M University Department of Soil and Crop Sciences and The Texas A&M University Department of Horticultural Sciences are sowing the seeds of agriculture in space by exploring innovative ways to transform toxic lunar and Martian dust into farmable soil. Graduate researcher Jessica Atkin even made the first-ever moondust-grown chickpeas! tx.ag/MoonDustAg

If we want to use plants for food and oxygen, we need to make sure they can last. The Shippen lab in the Texas A&M University Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics is studying how space radiation affects the protective caps on chromosomes called telomeres, a health and longevity marker. Her lab has even looked at plants that have been sent to the ISS. tx.ag/ShippenNASA

When it comes to choosing a meal during space travel, the menu has historically been pretty slim. But through a partnership with NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Dr. Suresh Pillai in the Department of Food Science and Technology has helped to package great food for astronauts on space missions – about 30% of the food items come from Texas A&M University! tx.ag/AstronautFood

Researchers in the Texas A&M Entomology department and Texas A&M Engineering are experimenting with insect waste to grow pea plants in simulated Martian soil. Maybe we should just send all the flies to Mars? tx.ag/AEROMartianSoil

#SpaceExplorationDay #AgInSpace

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## Tags

spaceexplorationday, aginspace

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