Hydroponics in space sounds very promising. And, as space exploration continues to evolve, a new frontier is emerging for lunar farmers who will need to find ways to grow crops and provide a source of food for future Moon settlers.
A new European Space Agency (ESA) Discovery project, led by Norway’s Solsys Mining, aims to explore the treatment of lunar soil to create nutrients for use in lunar hydroponic gardens.
Hydroponics could prove critical in establishing a base on the moon. Lunar soil compacts when it comes into contact with water making germination and root growth of plants difficult. Extracting nutrients on site and growing hydroponically could be a solution for sustainable agriculture on the surface of the moon.
The project, titled “Enabling Lunar In-Situ Agriculture by Producing Fertilizer from Beneficiated Regolith,” involves evaluating a combination of processes to extract mineral nutrients from the lunar soil. Through mechanical, chemical, and biological means, the project aims to develop a way to mine lunar soil for valuable plant nutrients vital for growth.
The team is optimistic about the project having successfully cultivated beans using simulated lunar highland regolith as a nutrient source. The project is still in its initial stages, and further research is required to achieve long-term sustainable food production.
ESA materials and processes engineer, Malgorzata Holynska, comments, “Achieving a sustainable presence on the Moon will involve using local resources and gaining access to nutrients present in lunar regolith with the potential to help cultivate plants. The current study represents a proof of principle using available lunar regolith simulants, opening the way to more detailed research in the future.”
Overall, the potential of lunar agriculture, and the use of hydroponic in space, could play a significant role in providing food for future moon settlers. The project represents an essential step towards achieving sustainable lunar agriculture. Further, it demonstrates the possibilities that lie ahead for space farming and sustained human colonization beyond our planet.
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