First lunar farm experiment shows plants can grow on the Moon

In a significant advance for the future of space exploration, the Chang’e 4 mission’s groundbreaking experiment on plant growth on the Moon recently shared its results.

This four-year lunar agricultural experiment has uncovered some surprising insights that may redefine our understanding of farming beyond Earth, according to a study published in Microgravity Science and Technology.

First of all, it is essential to clarify that the seeds were not grown in lunar soil, since their ability to germinate under these circumstances was not tested. Instead, the experiment focused on evaluating the impact of the Moon’s unique environmental factors, such as low gravity and high radiation, on plant life.

Gravity, in particular, is a crucial element, since altering the force that plants experience when growing on celestial bodies is more complex than mitigating radiation through protective structures.

Surprisingly, one of the first findings indicates that the Moon’s low gravity can speed up seed germination. During the experiment, identical seeds were placed on the lunar surface and in a controlled environment on Earth with compatible soil, temperature, humidity and air pressure.

To the researchers’ surprise, lunar seedlings demonstrated a faster germination process than their terrestrial counterparts.

One of the most challenging obstacles the lunar seedlings faced was the long lunar night, which began approximately nine Earth days after landing.

Inside the lunar module, temperatures dropped to -52°C (-61°F). For consistency, the ground control environment was also cooled to the same temperature. It took about 18 Earth days for the heat to return.

Surprisingly, the lunar seedlings not only survived, but remained green and upright when the lunar day returned. In stark contrast, the ground control group did not fare as well; They perished, acquiring a black-yellow color.

However, the growth of the lunar seedlings stopped during the second lunar day. Researchers attributed this slowdown to the lunar module’s depleting oxygen levels. Unfortunately, the cotton seedling appeared to have succumbed during the second lunar night and none of the other seeds germinated during the five lunar days of the experiment.

The researchers suggest that low lunar gravity may have activated a freezing resistance mechanism present in some polar plants.

This mechanism has been deregulated in warm climate plants, such as cotton. Although the experiment encountered challenges, this discovery about low-gravity cotton is a groundbreaking revelation for possible lunar agriculture.

While lunar farming presents its own set of challenges, it also offers certain advantages. Free of pests and weeds, it can eliminate the need for chemical pesticides. Additionally, experiments conducted on the International Space Station have shown that plants can grow and bear fruit in the absence of gravity.

This knowledge could be essential, especially when planning future Martian bases, where the ability to grow food will be of utmost importance.

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