Can we grow plants on the moon? NASA plans new mission to study the possibilities

NASA has selected the first scientific instruments for astronauts to deploy on the lunar surface during Artemis III, including the Lunar Effects on Agricultural Vegetation (LEAF). LEAF will study how the lunar environment affects space crops, investigating plant photosynthesis, growth and stress responses under space radiation and partial gravity conditions.

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After the Artemis III mission ends, cultivated plants will be carefully returned to Earth for extensive molecular-level analysis. This pioneering effort increases our understanding of sustainable life in space and paves the way for future colonization projects.

Meet the ‘miracle plant’

Plants include tail cress, duckweed and Brassica rapa. These will be housed in a protected growth chamber to ensure that the harsh conditions do not compromise their survival and development on and off the lunar surface.

Duckweed stands out among a select group of plants as a hardy species that resists many environmental challenges. It has a higher protein content than most food crops, making it an ideal food crop for future space colonies. Brassica rapa, a fast-growing relative of cabbage and broccoli, offers a promising prospect for thriving in space habitats beyond Earth.

The success of the mission could lead to the creation of self-sustaining habitats on the Moon and beyond, a major step in humanity’s journey into space exploration.

Also read: NASA Update: Astronaut Sunita Williams’ new space mission postponed till this date

Meanwhile, Artemis III will explore the lunar south polar region, within 6 degrees latitude of the south pole. The mission’s proposed landing sites are in some of the most pristine areas of the Moon.

A study published in 2022 by American researchers involved growing a flowering plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, in 12 small containers, each containing one gram of authentic moon soil collected during a NASA mission fifty years ago.

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Published: 09 May 2024, 11:00 AM IST