PlantsasImportantinSpaceasonEarth

　Growing a vegetable garden isnt so difficult, on earth. But a space garden… well, thats another story. Still, as Sheri Quinn reports, plants will likely be an important part of future space missions, not only to sustain the travelers bodies, but their souls, as well.
　　Plants are a vital part of the earths eco-system, and theyre just as crucial in the artificial environment of an orbiting space station. As on earth, they provide food, and offer a sense of tranquility.
　　Scientists from the U.S. space agency NASA and Utah State University are working with Russian colleagues to figure out how to grow edible plants in space, and understand their psychological value to space explorers. Bruce Bugbee is a professor of plant physiology at Utah State. His lab helps test so-called space gardens.
　　"We now are trying to quantify, how important are they?" he explains, adding that he is not just talking about providing fresh greens for the crews diet. "Are there pe