Answer:
1. To offer astronauts fresh vegetables for their meals: Growing vegetables in space provides astronauts with a fresh and nutritious food source. This is important for their physical health and well-being during long-duration space missions.
2. To support long duration space missions by providing a sustainable food source: By growing vegetables in space, astronauts have access to a sustainable food source that can support them during long-duration space missions. This reduces the dependence on re-gaining supply missions from Earth and allows for more self-sufficiency in space.
Step-by-step explanation: