NASA Partners with Tupperware to Develop “PONDS”

NASA is collaborating with Tupperware Brands on a device called PONDS. It aims to help grow vegetables in space.

Tupperware Brands was issued a patent for a device called Passive Orbital Nutrient Delivery System (PONDS) earlier this month. It aims to help grow vegetables in low earth orbit “with minimal maintenance.”

“We are proud to have received a patent for the unique and novel design of PONDS,” said Miguel Fernandez, Chief Executive Officer of Tupperware Brands.

“With this patent in hand and with the work of our teams on this project, we are now exploring ways to capitalize on the science behind this innovation and use that knowledge to enable consumers around the world to reduce their impact of single-use plastic and food waste through the use of our environmentally responsible products,” he added.

A team at NASA's Kennedy Space Center led by Dr. Howard Levine began developing PONDS in 2015. According to a statement, this is in order to “expand the capabilities of NASA's Vegetable Production System (Veggie) on the International Space Station so astronauts could grow larger, more complex plants in Veggie, while also reducing the amount of time spent watering and maintaining the plants.”

Tupperware then joined the project in 2017.

Bill Wright, Tupperware Brands' executive vice president of product innovation said during an interview with the Orlando Sentinel that PONDS could also help indoor gardeners.

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