THE 1ST SPACE VEGETABLES HAVE BEEN GROWN IN THE SVET GREENHOUSE USINGCONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTAL-CONDITIONS

The paper describes the ''SVET'' project-a new generation of space gre enhouse with small dimensions. Through the use of a minicomputer, ''SV ET'' is fully capable of automatically operating and controlling envir onmental systems for higher plant growth. A number of preliminary stud ies have shown the radish and cabbage to be potentially important crop s for CELSS (Closed Environmental Life Support System). The ''SVET'' s pace greenhouse was mounted on the ''CRYSTAL'' technological module do cked to the Mir orbital space station on 10 June 1990. Soviet cosmonau ts Balandin and Solovyov started the first experiments with the greenh ouse on 15 June 1990. Preliminary results of seed cultivation over an initial 54-day period in ''SVET'' are presented. Morphometrical charac teristics of plants brought back to Earth are given. Alteration in pla nt characteristics, such as growth and developmental changes, or morph ological contents were noted. A crop of radish plants was harvested un der microgravity conditions. Characteristics of plant environmental co ntrol parameters and an estimation of functional properties of control and regulation systems of the ''SVET'' greenhouse in space flight as received via telemetry data is reported.