FUTURE TECH SPACE FARMING

Future astronauts will need to grow their own plants in artificial environments if they are to survive missions far from Earth

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1 Hydroponics

Plants will be unable to grow in lunar or Martian soil, so an artificial hydroponics system will be needed to provide water and nutrients to enable the plants to flourish.

2 Ready meals

Some plans envision plant-bearing habitats being launched to the Moon ahead of astronauts. They would be tended to by robots until astronauts arrive.

3 Sunlight

Plants in space will grow like they do on Earth, using sunlight and carbon dioxide. If the habitat is exposed like this, the plants will easily be able to gather sunlight.

4 Life support

As well as providing food, plants consume carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. Therefore, they could be a substitute for mechanical life support systems.

5 Protection

To protect plants from radiation on the Moon it may be necessary to bury habitats in lunar soil. But Mars’ atmosphere could possibly provide enough protection.

6 Self-sustaining