A handout picture made available by NASA on 18 April 2015 and taken by Italian Expedition 43 Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (ESA) on 12 February 2015, shows the giant solar arrays on the International Space Station (IS

Scientists from Bulgaria, which is the third country in the world in the production of space food after Russia and the USA, have developed the first space greenhouse on Earth.

The aim of this programme is the production of space food, which does not differ from the genuine taste of food, private NOVA TV station reports.

Tanya Ivanova is the leader of the team of Bulgarian scientists, who have developed the first space greenhouse in the world.

In her words, the salads prepared with vegetables grown in the space greenhouse, were among the favourite dishes of the astronauts as they have not eaten such delicious things even on Earth.

At present preparations are taking place for the launch of a third generation greenhouse for the production of space delicacies based on the Bulgarian national cuisine.

The programme, which is named “Humans on Mars”, will become a reality in eighteen years and the preparations for the space menu for 2030 are at its height.

The lack of gravity will no longer corrupt the taste of food and the astronauts will be able to prepare their special dishes directly on board of their spacecraft.

NASA has developed hundred of recipes, but all of them are vegan, with milk and meat excluded from the menu, as all the ingredients have to be fit for consumption during the three-year stay.

Vegan pizza or sushi were among the most preferred dishes of astronauts, while a special greenhouse without soil will allow for the growing of fresh fruits, vegetables and live plants.