Question

This space station has plants growing inside it, and astronauts who eat the fruits and vegetables from those plants. Because it is in space, the station is sealed so no material can get in or out.

The space station is in Earth’s shadow, so no light is getting into it. The sensors in the space station show that carbon dioxide in the air is increasing.

What is happening to the energy storage molecules in the plants and humans in the space station? Explain your answer as completely as possible.

Answer 1

The energy storage is decreasing since there is no sun.

Answer 2

Growing plants in space is tough -- low gravity means water distribution is difficult to manage, the roots are often starved of oxygen, and stagnant air reduces evaporation and increases the leaf temperature