SPACE SPUDS:

 WITH SPACE STATION ALPHA AND LONG TERM STAYS IN SPACE JUST A FEW YEARS
AWAY, FEEDING ALL THOSE ASTRONAUTS SOMETHING MORE THAN TANG AND
DEHYDRATED ICE CREAM IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE. BOTANIST JUDITH CROXDALE AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN IS WORKING TO MAKE SURE THOSE ASTRONAUTS HAVE
VARIETY IN THEIR DIET. STARTING WITH THE POTATO.

CROXDALE: "Potatoes are a food staple for people throughout the world, and if we are ever to have
astronauts on the space station for long periods of time, it's going to be essential for them to grow at least
some of their food in space."  

THE CHALLENGE TO GROWING FOOD IN SPACE IS MICROGRAVITY. OUT THERE,
WITHOUT UP OR DOWN, PLANTS MIGHT BECOME CONFUSED ABOUT WHICH WAY TO
SEND THEIR ROOTS AND STEMS. NO GRAVITY ALSO MEANS THINGS COULD GET MESSY. 

CROXDALE: "how do you water plants in space? Obviously it can't be done with something like a
watering can, with no gravity, there'll be water everywhere."

SO CROXDALE JUST SENT AN EXPERIMENT UP ON THE SPACE SHUTTLE TO GROW A
PROTOTYPE GARDEN THAT MIGHT WORK IN SPACE. A CUTTING FROM A POTATO PLANT
WAS PLANTED IN A BED OF LITTLE PIECES OF CLAY, INSTEAD OF SOIL. SHE COVERED
THE CLAY IN PLASTIC AND REPLACED THE AIR WITH A NUTRIENT-RICH SOLUTION.  AIR
MUST BE KEPT OUT OF THE CLAY MIXTURE SO THE POTATO CAN EASILY SUCK UP ALL
OF THE FOOD IT NEEDS. 

THE FIRST SPACE SPUD WAS GROWN ON BOARD THE SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA, IN
JUST 16 DAYS.  IF THE POTATO IS NUTRITIOUS ENOUGH TO HELP FEED ASTRONAUTS, IT
MAY EARN ITS OWN GARDEN ON BOARD THE SPACE STATION. . .OR EVEN OPEN UP THE
DOORS TO ANOTHER AMERICAN FOOD STAPLE. 

(SFX: "thank you for choosing mcdonalds at space station alpha. Would you like fries with that?")