Satoshi Furukawa the 47 year old Japanese surgeon and JAZA astronaut is currently cultivating cucumbers on board the International Space Station. Furukawa joined with fellow astronauts Russian Sergei Volkov and American Michael Fossum for a six month tour at the Space Station, and is tasked to grow cucumbers as research for future explorations on food self sufficiency on potential long haul flights. Although not permitted to eat the cucumbers grown during this program, the research is hoped to allow future generations of space travelers to do otherwise and harvest their own fresh food supplements. A previous Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi helped improve food standards with preparation techniques, having successfully made sushi while on board the Space Station. Furukawa is assigned as a Mission specialist with a flight engineering designation. Inspired by the Guardian ow.ly/5Diii image source NASA ow.ly/5DiaL Wish we were able to eat the cucumbers (July 30 2011)

Satoshi Furukawa the 47 year old Japanese surgeon and JAZA astronaut is currently cultivating cucumbers on board the International Space Station. Furukawa joined with fellow astronauts Russian Sergei Volkov and American Michael Fossum for a six month tour at the Space Station, and is tasked to grow cucumbers as research for future explorations on food self sufficiency on potential long haul flights. Although not permitted to eat the cucumbers grown during this program, the research is hoped to allow future generations of space travelers to do otherwise and harvest their own fresh food supplements. A previous Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi helped improve food standards with preparation techniques, having successfully made sushi while on board the Space Station. Furukawa is assigned as a Mission specialist with a flight engineering designation.

 

Inspired by the Guardian http://ow.ly/5Diii image source NASA http://ow.ly/5DiaL