Astronauts on long missions may one day grow their own medicines on board. A new study from the University of California San Diego suggests a way to produce drugs in space, addressing a major challenge for future trips to Mars. More than half of the medicines stored on the International Space Station expire within three years. A Mars mission could last about 400 days, making it hard to rely on pre-packed drugs. The study's solution is to grow medicines on the spacecraft. Researchers grew cowpea mosaic virus, a plant virus that fights cancer, on two types of plants: a relative of tobacco and black-eyed pea plants. They did this in simulated microgravity, which mimics the conditions of space. The virus was extracted without killing the plants, meaning the plants could keep producing more. This method could allow astronauts to make fresh medicines as needed, reducing the need to carry large supplies. The study shows that plant-based drug production is possible in space, offering a promising path for long-duration missions.