NASA is carrying out an experiment that includes growing vegetables on the International Space Station (ISS). Called as the Vegetable Production System or Veggie, a plant growing unit, sent to the ISS allowing astronauts there to grow their own organic food.

On May 8, NASA astronaut Steve Swanson turned on the system's LED Lights and put six plant pillows inside the chamber. Every pillow has its own growth medium and all are seeds for red romaine lettuce. Once plants grow on the space station, they will be harvested, frozen and will be sent back to earth.

Scientists will then test whether the food grown on the space is safe, tasty and nutritious or not. NASA has shared pictures when the system kicked off on their social media platforms. It also shared Swanson aboard the ISS tending the Veggie.

NASA said that the plant growth chamber is a low-cost affair capable of producing salad-type crops allowing the crew to have fresh, appetizing and nutritious fresh food.

It would work with a flat-panel light bank having red, blue and green LEDs. These lights help plant growth and allow the crew to observe the plants. "The plant growth chamber may help expand in-orbit food production capabilities in more ways than one, and offer astronauts something they don't take for granted, fresh food", explained NASA on their website.

The chamber provides lightening and nutrient delivery, but they have to depend on the cabin environment for temperature control to act as a source of carbon dioxide for growth. Once the strategy falls into the place then it would pave way for plant growth research in space.