NASA astronaut Sunita Williams, who is currently on an eight-month mission aboard the International Space Station, is conducting a special experiment. She is studying the growth of "Outredgeous" romaine lettuce in space, focusing on how different amounts of water affect plant growth. This research is important for future space missions and may also give insights to improve farming on Earth.

As per NASA reports, Sunita Williams started her day by preparing for upcoming plant experiments on the International Space Station. She collected water samples from the habitat’s reservoir and set up the science carrier, Plant Habitat-07, which will hold the lettuce plants for her research.

The experiment focuses on studying how different amounts of water affect the growth and nutrition of the lettuce. The results could help improve food production methods, both in space and on Earth.

Williams also spends part of her day assisting fellow astronaut Hague with medical checks, including performing an ultrasound to track his vascular health. This combination of scientific research and supporting crew health highlights the diverse tasks astronauts manage during extended missions.

The results from the lettuce experiment could play a key role in creating sustainable food production systems for space missions, helping solve food supply issues during long missions. It will also help in learning how plants react to different water levels in space may lead to better farming techniques on Earth, especially in dry areas where saving water is important.

This research is part of NASA's ongoing efforts to study plant growth in space, which began early in human spaceflight. The findings from Williams' work could lead to new advancements in both space exploration and farming on Earth, showing how these fields are connected.