抄録
Systematic research on plants and other biological objects at orbital science stations has been conducted in the USSR since 1971,in two major directions:fundamental research which seeks to improve our understanding of natural evolution and the role of gravity in it;applied research aimed to improve life support systems,including bioregenerative plant systems,to be used at spacecrafts; These studies fall into the following steps:planning evaluation of experimental conditions; design of equipment;selection of objects and methodologies;training of cosmonauts;in-fling studies;ground control and primary material processing at the landing site;data evaluation and interpretation. Most of biological experiments were conducted at the "Mir" orbital station.The investigations were carried out with plants in different morphological forms:seeds,tubers,bulbs, seedlings,vegetating plants.The results have demonstrated a real feasibility of creating biotechnical life support system including subsystems of higher plants in prolonged space flights.Practical recommendations were used to design flight devices for cultivating plants that are now employed in cosmonautics.
