| LED lights have made a big impact on a lot of | | | | have an energy source which is light. The lights |
| different businesses around the world. With their | | | | required for this environment need to be very |
| energy efficiency and long life, LED lights are | | | | energy efficient so traditional lights used in our homes |
| becoming the right choice for many manufacturers | | | | will not get the job done. Incandescent and |
| when it comes to choosing a light source for their | | | | fluorescent lamps developed in the early 1900's both |
| product lineup. One of the latest industries to once | | | | contain electrodes that burn out. This adds additional |
| again take advantage of LED lights is NASA. | | | | maintenance that is not needed. Traditional lighting |
| When astronauts were asked which type of food | | | | also consumes a lot of electrical power which is very |
| they miss the most on the International Space | | | | valuable in space. The extra heat produced by these |
| Station, the answer they came up with was fresh | | | | traditional methods must be dispelled from sealed |
| salads. Being able to harvest fresh greens in space | | | | environments which causes even more issues when |
| would be a huge benefit to astronauts. Many | | | | in space. |
| scientists at NASA's Space Center are testing a new | | | | Plant physiologists are also doing research with blue |
| technology that's being used in traffic signals to make | | | | and red LED grow lights to grow lettuce and radishes. |
| a so called "salad machine" which is essentially LED | | | | Some of the leaves on the plants have a black hue |
| grow lights on steroids that would empower crew | | | | due to the lack of green light but they still grow |
| members on the International Space Station the | | | | normally and taste the same as those grown under |
| ability to grow their own greens. | | | | white light. LED lights can last a round trip mission to |
| This is the same technology used in semiconductor | | | | Mars while incandescent and fluorescent lamps require |
| clean rooms, automotive assembly lines, and airplane | | | | frequent replacement. |
| facilities. These new technologies are also being | | | | You might not be going to space anytime soon but |
| experimented to not only harvest greens but also to | | | | its fascinating to see how NASA is using new |
| reproduce and purify oxygen and water which are | | | | innovations to pioneer different ways of growing |
| key to supporting human life. Being able to get rid of | | | | plants in extreme environments using LED grow lights. |
| carbon dioxide from a sealed area is another added | | | | I'm sure NASA has been using LED technology longer |
| benefit. | | | | than anyone to produce light without consuming lots |
| In order to use plants to produce food, you must | | | | of energy. New technology for a new frontier! |