- Success Stories
- Space Science Application Support & Operations
Astronauts Conduct Latest Plant Water Management on the International Space Station
![Small bags containing various simulated plant root systems](https://consolidatedsafety.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Simulated-Plant-Kit-1024x768.jpg)
NASA recently performed the sixth iteration of the CSS-supported Plant Water Management experiment on the International Space Station (ISS). Plant Water Management is a series of technology demonstrations focused on developing a capability for crop irrigation and nutrient delivery in various microgravity environments. NASA’s ISS Research Program selected CSS through its Research, Engineering, Mission, Integration Services (REMIS) contract to serve as the prime contractor for performing all mission integration and operations for the plant water management system. CSS’ role as the integrator and project manager for this effort includes designing, testing and manifesting the hardware, processing all safety related items, coordinating procedures, turning over the hardware to NASA for delivery to the International Space Station, and supporting real-time experiment operations on ISS.
The experiment payload, which includes a hydroponic system powered by a pump, a variety of induced perturbations, and synthetic plants that mimic various plant root systems, has been delivered to the International Space Station where the crew of Boeing astronauts currently resides. The crew volunteered to support this science experiment testing the hydroponic process of growing plants in their intended microgravity environment.
![Woman in a laboratory holds a syringe injecting liquid into a system.](https://live-css-inc.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/PWM-NASA-scientist-1024x683.jpg)
Although the astronauts volunteering to run the experiment admit they were first skeptical about running a hydroponic system with artificial plants, they then realized the value in testing the system. After running the operation for three days, they expressed amazement in the complex science needed to pump water through the system.
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![](https://consolidatedsafety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG-9903-740x434.jpg)
Assisting With Maui Wildfire Recovery
As part of our support to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 Superfund Technical Assessment & Response Team (START)—for which we are subcontracted through Weston Solutions, Inc.—CSS employee owners have been on-site in three-week rotations to assist throughout the rigorous recovery process.
![](https://consolidatedsafety.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Dolphin-drone.jpg)
Examining Cetaceans for Contamination and Pathogens
CSS has employee owners who are experts in monitoring cetacean health. Several CSS scientists supporting NOAA’s Centers for Coastal Ocean Science have recently conducted research and tests on marine mammals to explore uncommon behaviors and causes for strandings. View some examples of this research below. Microplastics are becoming increasingly abundant in coastal and marine environments.…
![](https://consolidatedsafety.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/CoralCloseup-740x434.jpg)
Collecting and Studying Deep-Sea Coral
Three of our staff supporting NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science joined a team of nine other scientists on a 12 day expedition to collect deep-sea coral samples in the Gulf of Mexico.