The Space Exploration Center at Chongqing University (southern China) has started a project that aims to start potato cultivation on the Moon next year. Named “Chang'e 4”, the mission will be completed using a probe that will land on the hidden face carrying a 3-kilogram habitat with potato sprouts, seeds of the Arabidopsis thaliana flower and even silkworm eggs.
The research engineer at the Space Exploration Center Zhang Yuanxun is conducting the experiments that aim to create a “mini ecosystem on the lunar surface”. According to him, the container (18 by 16 cm) will maintain the appropriate humidity and temperature for each life form. “Natural lighting from the Moon will also be brought to the habitat through light tubes, to help the plants grow inside,” he said.
Xie Gengxin, chief designer of the project and deputy director of the Center, reveals that the germination and flowering of the plants, as well as the incubation of the silkworm eggs, will be broadcast live around the world using cameras inside the capsule. The objective is to see if potatoes can grow and insects can survive on the Moon.
According to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, this will be an important step towards establishing a fully operational human colony on Mars. The project brings together ideas from scientists and researchers from 28 Chinese universities, who are working on designing the hardware needed to carry out the various tests. In addition, scientists from the fields of biology, telecommunications, engineering, materials, aeronautics and astronautics from across the Asian country are involved in the project.
Source: Agrolink
