Artemis 3 astronauts, who will land on the Moon's surface after more than half a century, will build a mini-greenhouse on the Moon, if all goes according to plan.
To accomplish this mission, NASA has recently selected the first three scientific experiments that will be deployed by astronauts on the lunar surface during the Artemis 3 mission program in 2026, including LEAF ("Lunar Effects on Agricultural Flora Experiment"). This experiment will study how plants behave in the lunar environment.
Artemis Program astronauts will bring crops to the Moon in 2026. (Photo: istock)
“ LEAF will be the first experiment to observe photosynthesis, growth, and systemic stress responses of plants in space radiation and low gravity ,” NASA officials wrote in a statement announcing the proposed three experiments.
They also shared: “ Data on plant growth and development, along with environmental parameters measured by the LEAF experiment, will help scientists understand how plants grown on the Moon can be used to provide nutrition for humans, support life on the Moon, and more .”
In fact, an experiment like LEAF isn't the first to appear on the Moon. China sent cotton plants to the far side of the Moon on its Chang'e 4 robotic mission in January 2019.
Next, LEMS is an automated seismometer experiment designed to hunt for moonquakes. NASA officials claim: “ This experiment will characterize the regional structure of the Moon’s crust and mantle, promising to add valuable information to models of the Moon’s formation and evolution .”
Meanwhile, the LDA experiment will measure the ability of the lunar regolith – the top layer of dust and gravel on the moon – to conduct electric fields. “ This experiment will gather essential information about the structure of the lunar regolith, and monitor changes in the electric field of this geological layer, ” NASA officials wrote.
These experiments could be deployed near the Moon’s south pole, an area believed to have plenty of water ice that could support one or more crewed bases. The exact location is unknown, and NASA has yet to announce the final landing site for the Artemis 3 mission.
And there's no guarantee that experiments like LEAF, LEMS, and LDA will ever make it onto Artemis 3. That's the current plan, but final decisions will have to wait a while longer.
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