Astronauts to Grow First Mushrooms in Space During Fram2 Mission

The upcoming Fram2 mission by SpaceX will attempt to grow oyster mushrooms in microgravity for the first time, a significant step for sustainable astronaut nutrition. Led by the Australian company FOODiQ Global, this experiment aims to establish mushrooms as an ideal food source for long-duration space missions due to their fast growth and high nutritional value. Eric Philips, an Australian polar explorer, will monitor the mushroom growth aboard the Dragon capsule, documenting their development and signs of contamination. The mission, which launches from Cape Canaveral, Florida, will also include other scientific experiments, including X-rays of humans in space. Upon return to Earth, the mushrooms will be analyzed to understand how microgravity affects their nutritional properties. This research could inform future food cultivation strategies for lunar and Mars missions.