NASA successfully planted the first lunar soil-based space plants. For the past few years, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and other space agencies have been studying the possibility of space-based plants.
(Photo : Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP via Getty Images)
The NASA logo on a protective box for a camera near the space shuttle Endeavour April 28, 2011 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida as preparations are under way for an April 29 launch of Endeavour, which will be its last flight. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA
Some of them focus on vegetations that can grow on lunar soil. On the other hand, others want to plant vegetations that can grow even without the presence of soil.
Now, the international space union announced that it was able to grow plants in the lunar soil collected by the recent Apollo missions.
NASA Plants First Lunar Soil-Based Space Plants!
According to CNN World's latest report, these first lunar soil-based plants are important for enhancing long-term space missions.
(Photo : Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The NASA logo is displayed at the agency's booth during CES 2018 at the Las Vegas Convention Center on January 11, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. CES, the world's largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 12 and features about 3,900 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than 170,000 attendees.
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"This research is critical to NASA's long-term human exploration goals as we'll need to use resources found on the Moon," said Bill Nelson, the current NASA Administrator, via the space agency's official blog post.
He added that this new achievement is also quite essential for Mars spaceflights since astronauts also need to have better food sources if they want to last longer on the Red Planet.
NASA's team used the Moon soil samples acquired by Apollo 11, Apollo 12, and Apollo 17 missions to grow the so-called Arabidopsis thaliana.
This plant is native vegetation to Africa and Eurasia. It is a relative of cauliflower, broccoli, as well as Brussell sprouts.
But, unlike them, this plant is quite easy to grow because of its small size.
Other Benefits of Lunar Soil-Based Plant Study
Aside from providing more food supplies to NASA astronauts for longer space missions, the result of the study will also help the agriculture on Earth.
Bill Nelson explained that the findings would help them know how the Arabidopsis thaliana can survive in food-scarce areas, as well as environments with stressful conditions.
If you want to see more details about the new achievement of NASA when it comes to lunar soil-based plants, you can visit this link.
Meanwhile, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope was able to capture some dazzling galaxy images.
On the other hand, longer NASA Mars missions are expected to happen after discovering a new tech that is believed to be better than nuclear energy.
For more news updates about NASA and its upcoming space activities, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.
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Written by: Griffin Davis
