Can plants grow on the moon? — AFP pic

WASHINGTON, Dec 3 — NASA says it hopes to take a radical step forward in space exploration by planting seedlings on the moon by 2015. The goal of the experiment will be to explore whether plants can be grown in a high-radiation, low-gravity environment. If successful, the plan could help further the goal of humans colonising the moon.

The plan calls for a one-kilogram sealed chamber to be transported via a commercial spaceflight, most likely the Moon Express Lander, a craft that’s currently in competition to win Google’s US$30 million (RM96.5 million) Lunar X-Prize in 2015.

NASA officials say if the plants can thrive on the moon, humans probably also can as the chamber carrying seedlings will provide similar living conditions required for humans, such as air, water and nutritional supplies.

Once the chamber lands on the moon, a trigger will release a small amount of reservoir water which will hopefully initiate the germination of the seeds. The growth of the plants will be monitored by camera and compared to Earth-grown plants.

If the “space seeds” successfully sprout at around the 14-day mark, the sexual reproduction of the plants should follow by the time 60 days has passed, demonstrating that plants can be grown on the moon.

Finally, if the plants can survive on the moon for up to 180 days, scientists will have a much broader understanding of the effects of radiation on dominant and recessive genetic traits. — Reuters