Mixing
How did humans grow plants on the Moon despite the harsh conditions?
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The Chang'e 4 lander contains seeds to grow plants on the Moon. The Moon has non-sustainable life conditions. Among those are the lack of water, atmosphere, the varying extreme temperatures, the low gravity, the solar radiations, etc.
However at least one cotton plant has germed and is in the process of growing.
How did the CNSA engineers have the plants germ then grow on the Moon? And are the plants supposed to die of natural death or will the harsh conditions kill them, if such, which one first?
the-moon life life-support chang-e
asked Jan 16 at 9:44
Olivier GrégoireOlivier Grégoire
17815
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add a comment |
$begingroup$
The Chang'e 4 lander contains seeds to grow plants on the Moon. The Moon has non-sustainable life conditions. Among those are the lack of water, atmosphere, the varying extreme temperatures, the low gravity, the solar radiations, etc.
However at least one cotton plant has germed and is in the process of growing.
How did the CNSA engineers have the plants germ then grow on the Moon? And are the plants supposed to die of natural death or will the harsh conditions kill them, if such, which one first?
the-moon life life-support chang-e
asked Jan 16 at 9:44
Olivier GrégoireOlivier Grégoire
17815
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The Chang'e 4 lander contains seeds to grow plants on the Moon. The Moon has non-sustainable life conditions. Among those are the lack of water, atmosphere, the varying extreme temperatures, the low gravity, the solar radiations, etc.
However at least one cotton plant has germed and is in the process of growing.
How did the CNSA engineers have the plants germ then grow on the Moon? And are the plants supposed to die of natural death or will the harsh conditions kill them, if such, which one first?
the-moon life life-support chang-e
asked Jan 16 at 9:44
Olivier GrégoireOlivier Grégoire
17815
$endgroup$
The Chang'e 4 lander contains seeds to grow plants on the Moon. The Moon has non-sustainable life conditions. Among those are the lack of water, atmosphere, the varying extreme temperatures, the low gravity, the solar radiations, etc.
However at least one cotton plant has germed and is in the process of growing.
How did the CNSA engineers have the plants germ then grow on the Moon? And are the plants supposed to die of natural death or will the harsh conditions kill them, if such, which one first?
the-moon life life-support chang-e
the-moon life life-support chang-e
asked Jan 16 at 9:44
Olivier GrégoireOlivier Grégoire
17815
asked Jan 16 at 9:44
Olivier GrégoireOlivier Grégoire
17815
asked Jan 16 at 9:44
Olivier GrégoireOlivier Grégoire
17815
asked Jan 16 at 9:44
Olivier GrégoireOlivier Grégoire
17815
asked Jan 16 at 9:44
Olivier GrégoireOlivier Grégoire
17815
17815
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
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While it's still cool, it's not as tricky as it may sound at first:
The seeds, including water, are stored in a sealed, heated and shielded container. The container also includes fruit flies and yeast. So the plants are not grown in the lunar soil (which would be the interesting and challenging next step) but in a portable, sealed ecosystem.
(See for example this article, among many about this subject.)
answered Jan 16 at 12:03
DarkDustDarkDust
7,70433157
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31
$begingroup$
There is no soil on the moon. Lunar regolith has no organic components, which is the defining characteristic of a soil. Lunar regolith is only ground up rock: silica, iron, aluminium, and oxygen.
$endgroup$
– dotancohen
Jan 16 at 15:01
8
$begingroup$
Tangentially, c.f. The Martian, and the process of making Mars "dirt" into something capable of supporting plant growth.
$endgroup$
– Adrien
Jan 16 at 18:48
1
$begingroup$
The cotton seedling that sprouted has reportedly been killed by the cold now.
$endgroup$
– Robyn
Jan 17 at 0:27
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@Robyn they probably turned off the heating and lights in the growing chamber the moment they had their publicity shots, in order to preserve the batteries of the lander during the lunar night.
$endgroup$
– jwenting
Jan 17 at 4:47
2
$begingroup$
@Mazura They're already dead.
$endgroup$
– curiousdannii
Jan 17 at 6:35
|
show 2 more comments
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1 Answer
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active
oldest
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
While it's still cool, it's not as tricky as it may sound at first:
The seeds, including water, are stored in a sealed, heated and shielded container. The container also includes fruit flies and yeast. So the plants are not grown in the lunar soil (which would be the interesting and challenging next step) but in a portable, sealed ecosystem.
(See for example this article, among many about this subject.)
answered Jan 16 at 12:03
DarkDustDarkDust
7,70433157
$endgroup$
31
$begingroup$
There is no soil on the moon. Lunar regolith has no organic components, which is the defining characteristic of a soil. Lunar regolith is only ground up rock: silica, iron, aluminium, and oxygen.
$endgroup$
– dotancohen
Jan 16 at 15:01
8
$begingroup$
Tangentially, c.f. The Martian, and the process of making Mars "dirt" into something capable of supporting plant growth.
$endgroup$
– Adrien
Jan 16 at 18:48
1
$begingroup$
The cotton seedling that sprouted has reportedly been killed by the cold now.
$endgroup$
– Robyn
Jan 17 at 0:27
$begingroup$
@Robyn they probably turned off the heating and lights in the growing chamber the moment they had their publicity shots, in order to preserve the batteries of the lander during the lunar night.
$endgroup$
– jwenting
Jan 17 at 4:47
2
$begingroup$
@Mazura They're already dead.
$endgroup$
– curiousdannii
Jan 17 at 6:35
|
show 2 more comments
$begingroup$
While it's still cool, it's not as tricky as it may sound at first:
The seeds, including water, are stored in a sealed, heated and shielded container. The container also includes fruit flies and yeast. So the plants are not grown in the lunar soil (which would be the interesting and challenging next step) but in a portable, sealed ecosystem.
(See for example this article, among many about this subject.)
answered Jan 16 at 12:03
DarkDustDarkDust
7,70433157
$endgroup$
31
$begingroup$
There is no soil on the moon. Lunar regolith has no organic components, which is the defining characteristic of a soil. Lunar regolith is only ground up rock: silica, iron, aluminium, and oxygen.
$endgroup$
– dotancohen
Jan 16 at 15:01
8
$begingroup$
Tangentially, c.f. The Martian, and the process of making Mars "dirt" into something capable of supporting plant growth.
$endgroup$
– Adrien
Jan 16 at 18:48
1
$begingroup$
The cotton seedling that sprouted has reportedly been killed by the cold now.
$endgroup$
– Robyn
Jan 17 at 0:27
$begingroup$
@Robyn they probably turned off the heating and lights in the growing chamber the moment they had their publicity shots, in order to preserve the batteries of the lander during the lunar night.
$endgroup$
– jwenting
Jan 17 at 4:47
2
$begingroup$
@Mazura They're already dead.
$endgroup$
– curiousdannii
Jan 17 at 6:35
|
show 2 more comments
$begingroup$
While it's still cool, it's not as tricky as it may sound at first:
The seeds, including water, are stored in a sealed, heated and shielded container. The container also includes fruit flies and yeast. So the plants are not grown in the lunar soil (which would be the interesting and challenging next step) but in a portable, sealed ecosystem.
(See for example this article, among many about this subject.)
answered Jan 16 at 12:03
DarkDustDarkDust
7,70433157
$endgroup$
While it's still cool, it's not as tricky as it may sound at first:
The seeds, including water, are stored in a sealed, heated and shielded container. The container also includes fruit flies and yeast. So the plants are not grown in the lunar soil (which would be the interesting and challenging next step) but in a portable, sealed ecosystem.
(See for example this article, among many about this subject.)
answered Jan 16 at 12:03
DarkDustDarkDust
7,70433157
answered Jan 16 at 12:03
DarkDustDarkDust
7,70433157
answered Jan 16 at 12:03
DarkDustDarkDust
7,70433157
answered Jan 16 at 12:03
DarkDustDarkDust
7,70433157
7,70433157
31
$begingroup$
There is no soil on the moon. Lunar regolith has no organic components, which is the defining characteristic of a soil. Lunar regolith is only ground up rock: silica, iron, aluminium, and oxygen.
$endgroup$
– dotancohen
Jan 16 at 15:01
8
$begingroup$
Tangentially, c.f. The Martian, and the process of making Mars "dirt" into something capable of supporting plant growth.
$endgroup$
– Adrien
Jan 16 at 18:48
1
$begingroup$
The cotton seedling that sprouted has reportedly been killed by the cold now.
$endgroup$
– Robyn
Jan 17 at 0:27
$begingroup$
@Robyn they probably turned off the heating and lights in the growing chamber the moment they had their publicity shots, in order to preserve the batteries of the lander during the lunar night.
$endgroup$
– jwenting
Jan 17 at 4:47
2
$begingroup$
@Mazura They're already dead.
$endgroup$
– curiousdannii
Jan 17 at 6:35
|
show 2 more comments
31
$begingroup$
There is no soil on the moon. Lunar regolith has no organic components, which is the defining characteristic of a soil. Lunar regolith is only ground up rock: silica, iron, aluminium, and oxygen.
$endgroup$
– dotancohen
Jan 16 at 15:01
8
$begingroup$
Tangentially, c.f. The Martian, and the process of making Mars "dirt" into something capable of supporting plant growth.
$endgroup$
– Adrien
Jan 16 at 18:48
1
$begingroup$
The cotton seedling that sprouted has reportedly been killed by the cold now.
$endgroup$
– Robyn
Jan 17 at 0:27
$begingroup$
@Robyn they probably turned off the heating and lights in the growing chamber the moment they had their publicity shots, in order to preserve the batteries of the lander during the lunar night.
$endgroup$
– jwenting
Jan 17 at 4:47
2
$begingroup$
@Mazura They're already dead.
$endgroup$
– curiousdannii
Jan 17 at 6:35
31
31
$begingroup$
There is no soil on the moon. Lunar regolith has no organic components, which is the defining characteristic of a soil. Lunar regolith is only ground up rock: silica, iron, aluminium, and oxygen.
$endgroup$
– dotancohen
Jan 16 at 15:01
$begingroup$
There is no soil on the moon. Lunar regolith has no organic components, which is the defining characteristic of a soil. Lunar regolith is only ground up rock: silica, iron, aluminium, and oxygen.
$endgroup$
– dotancohen
Jan 16 at 15:01
8
8
$begingroup$
Tangentially, c.f. The Martian, and the process of making Mars "dirt" into something capable of supporting plant growth.
$endgroup$
– Adrien
Jan 16 at 18:48
$begingroup$
Tangentially, c.f. The Martian, and the process of making Mars "dirt" into something capable of supporting plant growth.
$endgroup$
– Adrien
Jan 16 at 18:48
1
1
$begingroup$
The cotton seedling that sprouted has reportedly been killed by the cold now.
$endgroup$
– Robyn
Jan 17 at 0:27
$begingroup$
The cotton seedling that sprouted has reportedly been killed by the cold now.
$endgroup$
– Robyn
Jan 17 at 0:27
$begingroup$
@Robyn they probably turned off the heating and lights in the growing chamber the moment they had their publicity shots, in order to preserve the batteries of the lander during the lunar night.
$endgroup$
– jwenting
Jan 17 at 4:47
$begingroup$
@Robyn they probably turned off the heating and lights in the growing chamber the moment they had their publicity shots, in order to preserve the batteries of the lander during the lunar night.
$endgroup$
– jwenting
Jan 17 at 4:47
2
2
$begingroup$
@Mazura They're already dead.
$endgroup$
– curiousdannii
Jan 17 at 6:35
$begingroup$
@Mazura They're already dead.
$endgroup$
– curiousdannii
Jan 17 at 6:35
|
show 2 more comments
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