Researchers at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) have begun construction of an advanced greenhouse in Antarctica, as a test project to grow crops in outer space.
The first seeds will be sewn at the end of February, meaning that salad greens and radishes could be harvested by the end of March, according to the DLR.
The greenhouse arrived by ship to the icy edge of the continent on January 3.
Snowmobiles then towed the greenhouse about 20 kilometres to Neumayer Station III at the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) where it was placed on a scaffold.
But it's what is on the inside that counts: Vegetables and herbs are expected to thrive without any soil and daylight in this advanced greenhouse.
"Shelves will be set up, pumps for nutrient solution will be installed and special LEDs calibrated for optimal illumination" said Eden-ISS Research Director, Daniel Schubert.
Eden-ISS is an EU test project that aims to make breakthroughs in providing fresh food to space explorers on long missions to the moon and Mars.
