When we leave the confines of Earth’s orbit, plants will accompany us on the journey. Plants have always been a part of the human exploration story, and whether viewed on the scale of across a continent, an ocean, or a planet, plants allow us to push past the limits of the cargo we bring along. Plants form the foundation of the biological life support systems envisioned for extraterrestrial discovery. Our research tells a story about how humans decided to take their explorations off their home world, and the role of plants (and of space plant scientists) in preparing the way.

Anna-Lisa Paul is a Research Professor of Horticultural Sciences and Director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research at the University of Florida. Paul’s research is focused on gene expression in plants in response to novel and extreme environments, with emphasis on spaceflight and planetary analogs, such as Antarctica and the Canadian Arctic. Paul has served the space research community as the President of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research, as a member of the International Space Station Standing Review Board, on NASA’s GeneLab Science Council, and on an advisory board for the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. In 2019, Paul received the NASA Medal of Honor for Exceptional Scientific Achievement and was inducted as a Fellow of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research.