Gardeners of the Galaxy

Soil in Space with Morgan Irons: GotG23

In 2020, Morgan Irons made space exploration history when she sent the first Earth soils to the International Space Station. Morgan joins Emma the Space Gardener to talk about the importance of soil structure on Earth, why she sent soil into space, and how we might develop living soils on Mars.

Helen Sharman's Project Juno Mission. GotG22.

Thirty years ago, Helen Sharman blasted off on her Project Juno mission, becoming the first British astronaut and the first women to visit the Mir space station. Join Emma the Space Gardener to discover how Helen was chosen for the mission, the plants she grew on Mir, and what happened to the pansy seeds she took into space.

Ben Greaves on his Hi-Seas space mission. GotG21.

In the Hi-Seas habitat in Hawaii, analog astronauts take part in simulated space missions. Ben Greaves joins Emma the Space Gardener to talk about the isolation, the dehydrated diet, and his experiment growing microgreens in space-age hydrogel.

Mission WISE: wines and vines in space. GotG20.

Can sending vines into space help wine production on Earth? Nicholas Gaume and Dr Michael Lebert from Space Cargo Unlimited join Emma the Space Gardener to discuss Mission WISE, and why they've sent both wine and vines to the International Space Station.

Aquaculture in space: GotG19

Aquaculture is farming in water. Can we do that in space? Join Emma the Space Gardener as she explores gardening on Earth... and beyond!

Astrobiologist Grace Crain on growing plants in astronaut waste: GotG18

Join Emma the Space Gardener as she explores gardening on Earth... and beyond! In this episode, Emma talks to Grace Crain, a researcher on the MELiSSA project developing circular life support systems. 

Growing Drugs in Space: GotG17

Join Emma the Space Gardener as she explores gardening on Earth... and beyond! In this episode, Emma recaps important spacecraft Arrivals and Departures and learns about growing nutrients and medicines in space. There's a new plant experiment running on the International Space Station, and exciting news from ESA.

Transplanting seedlings in space: GotG16

Join Emma the Space Gardener as she explores gardening on Earth... and beyond! In this episode, Emma talks about some exciting news for astrobotanists and starts exploring the history of Space Gardeners of Colour for Black History Month.