NASA revealed that it will grow plants on the moon for the first time.
As part of its Artemis III mission scheduled for 2026, NASA is starting a novel initiative to grow plants on the Moon. Growth chambers holding a variety of plant species—such as thale cress and duckweed—that have been selected for their potential as sustainable food sources and their capacity to adapt to lunar conditions will be put up by astronauts.
The Lunar Effects on Agricultural Flora project (LEAF) will gather information on plant growth and development, according to a NASA announcement.
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The data will assist researchers in comprehending the utilization of plants cultivated for both human sustenance and life maintenance on the moon and in distant locations.
The University of Adelaide, La Trobe University, and a core group from the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence will comprise the esteemed collaboration spearheading the research.
Christine Escobar, vice president of Space Lab and project lead, described the study as a “pivotal step” toward comprehending how lunar agriculture might eventually support human troops.
Principle Investigator Jenny Mortimer
Plants for Space (P4S) principle investigator Jenny Mortimer, an associate professor of plant synthetic biology at the University of Adelaide, said the mission will teach scientists how to create a “robust” environment that supports their growth.
According to Professor Lewsey, “the seeds we send to the Moon will germinate in an enclosed capsule, which we will be monitoring through a remote camera.”
“After the plants return to Earth, our team of scientists will do genetic and metabolic investigations of individual cells, gathering data on the plants’ growth and appearance as they grow on the moon.
“Thereafter, we can use this knowledge to increase plant resistance to environmental stressors like radiation.”
The program’s trials will all be focused on creating innovative plant-based diets and biomanufacturing techniques that will enable humanity to travel farther into space than ever.
They will also strive to improve efficiency and sustainability on Earth.
As part of NASA’s Artemis III mission, three science instruments have been chosen so far for development and will be placed in close proximity to the lunar South Pole on the Moon. One of them is LEAF.
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