An Australian scientific mission has taken an unexpected turn by sharing space with two NASA astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS).
Astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore have been living on the ISS since June after a helium leak in their Boeing Starliner spacecraft delayed their return to Earth until February 2025.
Meanwhile, a unique experiment from Melbourne’s Swinburne University has joined them in orbit. Led by astrophysicist Dr. Sara Webb, the study involves growing fungi in space, with the aim of eventually cultivating food beyond Earth.
Mushrooms, known for their rich nutritional value, are a key focus of this research.
Dr. Webb’s team hopes to use the roots of these mushrooms to develop building materials for future space structures on the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
The mission has also engaged senior students from Haileybury College, who played a role in designing the experiment.
The mushrooms are set to return to Australia soon, where they will be compared with Earth-grown counterparts.
Dr. Webb is optimistic that this experiment could pave the way for bio-manufacturing in space, potentially revolutionizing food and medicine production in the coming decades.

The Future of Space Exploration: Mushrooms and Beyond
This groundbreaking experiment highlights the potential of using fungi not only for food but also as a sustainable building material in space exploration.
With the involvement of young students and cutting-edge research, the future of space colonization looks promising.
Source 9now