XROOTS ISS Tech Demo of Aeroponics and Hydroponics Nutrient Delivery in Microgravity

The eXposed Root On-Orbit Test System (XROOTS®) is a payload integrated with the Veggie hardware for experimentation aboard the International Space Station (ISS). XROOTS grows plants in the microgravity environment of the ISS to evaluate nutrient delivery and recovery techniques such as aeroponics and hydroponics over the course of a full plant growth cycle, from germination to maturity. XROOTS was designed so multiple independent growth chambers can be used in parallel to evaluate alternative water and nutrient supply and recovery methods and configurations during operations. XROOTS allows for root zone and crop observation through video and still images, and short periods of crew observations. As a middeck locker equivalent (MLE) sized payload, XROOTS is mounted to the EXPRESS Rack below the Veggie lighting module. XROOTS was launched on NG-17 in February 2022 and installed the end of April. Sierra Space monitored and controlled payload operations from our Payload Operations Center (POC) in Madison, WI. Operations were conducted over a six-month period, with individual experiments lasting between 10 and 80 days. Results of each investigation provided insight for subsequent investigations. XROOTS demonstrated the feasibility of using aeroponic and hydroponic techniques for plant growth in microgravity. Results of these tests will help optimize design and performance of hydroponic systems for large scale plant production in space.