 |
Lunar Oasis Greenhouse 2012
The Lunar Oasis, a pressurized mini-greenhouse for use on the surface of the moon, is under development as part of the Google Lunar X prize competition. Paragon Space Development Corporation and Odyssey Moon hope to grow a plant from seed and bring it to flower.
(Lunar Greenouse 2012)
Since the surface of the Moon is singularly inhospitable to Earth plant life, the lunar greenhouse will need to protect plants from the Sun's rays while providing everything needed for growth. Soil, water, carbon dioxide - and don't forget to take care of that waste product, oxygen.
A species from within the Brassica family has been selected as the first growing plant on the Moon. It should need about 14 days of light to grow, flower and then go to seed. As it turns out, this matches the length of the lunar day.
A plant from the Brassica family was chosen in part because this family has prior experience in space, having been flown aboard the International Space Station. The entire genome for this plant will be available by flight time, planned for 2012.
Take a look at this video showing an interview with Paragon's Taber MacCallum explaining the Lunar Oasis project.
Science fiction fans may recall the 1972 film Silent Running, which portrayed a future in which all plant life on Earth has been made extinct. Only a few specimens have been preserved in space.
(Gardening robots from Silent Running)
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 4/29/2009)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 3 )
Related News Stories - (" Biology ")
Slime Mold Network Engineering
It turns out that the yellow slime mold Physarum polycephalum is a very clever little engineer. Greg Bear, are you listening?
Kava 'Anti-Energy' Drinks
Tired of those frenetic energy drink ads? Why not relax?
Sea Slug Performs Photosynthesis
This amazing little slug can convert sunlight into energy all on its own.
Viruses Inserted 8% Of Human Genome
Just how human are we? Fascinating study gives you something to enter into your calculations.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Current News
Put MercuryHouseOne Anywhere
Perhaps looking out through the spray of Victoria Falls.
Computational Wood: Grow Circuits In Living Trees
Just tap into the information tree.
SIRI Virtual Assistant Like Pohl's Joymaker
Man Forrester! Your joymaker is ready.
Liquid Glass Universal Spray-On Protectant
Also used to protect galactic way stations.
WIND Wearable Robot Controller
Robot wirelessly sense, robot do.
Gesture Cube Touch-Free Input
Just think of the gestures you'll use!
IMPASS Robot 'Smart Wheel' Video
I love it when good robot research comes together.
Predator, Prey Robots Evolve
Humanity must make a choice about robot evolution.
Mind-Control Lights At Vancouver Olympics
Bringing The Game to the Olympic Games.
PALRO Companion Robot
Who's your favorite companion robot?
Wasabi Smoke Alarm Now Available
It's an odalarm!
Spyder Olympic GS Suit With d3o
An impact suit made with a shear thickening material.
First Transistor That Mimics Brain Synapse
The Nexus Six phone will need a Nexus-6 brain.
Legged Squad Support System Monster BigDog Robot
A robotic pack mule for soldiers.
Implantable Energy-Harvesting Rubber Sheets
Take a deep breath, and power up that cell phone!
Bose Ride System Smooths Your Ride
Ride the spaceways - uh, roads - in comfort.
