NASA, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) have signed a joint statement of intent. The three agencies will begin coordinated preparatory work toward an Earth-based demonstrator to learn how to grow crops on the Moon.
The Lunar Agriculture Module Ground Test Demonstrator
The project is called the Lunar Agriculture Module-Ground Test Demonstrator. According to NASA, it aims to develop the technologies needed to grow space crops and to study how plants perform under atmospheres and controlled environments similar to those expected at Moon Base, NASA's planned outpost near the Moon's South Pole.
Why crops matter in space
- They provide crews with whole food nutrition and more dietary variety.
- They absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen.
- They help recycle water.
NASA notes that these capabilities become increasingly important as human missions extend farther from Earth.
What it means for logistics
Every kilogram of food, water and oxygen produced on the Moon is a kilogram that does not have to be launched from Earth. Growing food locally could, over time, change the supply needs of lunar bases, which today depend entirely on deliveries. Our article on how crew and supplies get to the ISS shows how dependent current stations are on resupply.
Frequently asked questions
Who is involved in the lunar agriculture project?
NASA, the Canadian Space Agency and the German Aerospace Center DLR, which signed a joint statement of intent.
Will crops be grown on the Moon now?
Not yet. The agreement covers preparatory work toward a ground test demonstrator on Earth.
Related reading
- NASA Selects Three New Lunar Science Payloads for Moon Base
- How Do Crew and Supplies Get to the ISS?
- After the ISS: Who Is Building the Commercial Space Stations?
Sources
Cover image: Horticulture scientist Blake Costine adjusts moisture sensors for the Advanced Plant Imaging project at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, 17 April 2023. Credit: NASA/Isaac Watson (KSC-20230417-PH-ILW01_0128), public domain.