NASA research could help astronauts grow medicines in space

Growing fresh vegetables aboard the International Space Station has become a familiar part of NASA's efforts to support astronauts on long-duration missions. Now, researchers believe those same plants could take on a much bigger role by producing medicines whenever crews need them. A new study has shown that a tobacco relative, paired with a harmless plant virus, could one day serve as a living pharmaceutical factory in space. The approach could help astronauts manufacture therapeutic proteins during future missions to the Moon and Mars, reducing reliance on medicine supplies launched from Earth. While the technology is still at an early stage, scientists say it marks an important step towards making deep-space exploration more self-sufficient.How the idea of growing medicines in space took rootNASA's plant experiments have evolved significantly over the past two decades. Early studies focused on understanding whether crops could survive and thrive in microgravity.