Citizen Astronaut Explores Food Crop Growth in Space

Aisha Bowe's space mission advances plant growth studies

Citizen astronaut and entrepreneur Aisha Bowe made history when she flew aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard (NS-31) mission, carrying a unique question with her: how can humans grow food beyond Earth? This mission was more than a flight—it created a rare chance to design and operate world-class plant biology research in space.

Working as a Science Payload Operator, Bowe collaborated with Blue Origin and university partners to champion the inclusion of food crops in the flight experiment. Sweet potatoes and chickpeas were carefully prepared and flown, giving scientists and students the opportunity to explore how these plants respond under microgravity.

The project built on NASA’s archived plant biology studies, stored in the NASA GeneLab, while extending this work to food crops. Students at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) contributed directly by preparing and analyzing the flown samples, gaining valuable real-world experience in space biology.

The results were significant: the research team produced a peer-reviewed paper detailing the molecular and physiological responses of these crops in space. The findings will be presented at the International Astronautical Congress in Sydney, Australia, on October 1, 2025.

Bowe, a decorated former NASA aerospace engineer, believes the mission proves what is possible when citizen astronauts, scientists, and students unite to conduct meaningful research. "This mission shows what's possible when citizen astronauts work alongside scientists and students to deliver meaningful research," said Bowe. "It's not the typical path, but that's exactly why it matters. We're opening doors to science in space that were closed before."

While it began with just a handful of sweet potatoes and chickpeas, the study points to a larger mission: ensuring the survival of humans beyond Earth. By turning an idea into a flight experiment and then into international science, Bowe demonstrated that the future of space exploration is not only about reaching new worlds—it is about learning how to live on them.

Photo Credit: LinkedIn