Good idea! A hydroponic garden grows in water instead of soil.

Why grow crops in water?

• They grow faster
• They need less space
• They produce more food
• They use fewer nutrients
• They purify the water
• They turn excess carbon dioxide into oxygen

So your hydroponic garden will produce both food and oxygen, making it very important for a self-sufficient space station.

Each astronaut needs 10 square meters of plants for oxygen recycling. How many crops does each astronaut need for food production?

10 square meters	100 square meters
50 square meters

© The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, 1999