Key Points
- A global team created a roadmap for growing plants in space.
- Plants are vital for food, oxygen, water recycling, and mental health.
- Low gravity makes watering and airflow difficult for space crops.
- NASA’s Artemis III mission will test growing plants on the Moon in 2027.
Eating fresh strawberries while looking at Earth from the Moon sounds like a scene from a movie. However, researchers from the University of Melbourne and NASA are working fast to make this a reality. A massive global team of over 40 scientists across 11 countries has created a detailed roadmap to grow plants in space, a step essential for human survival on the Moon and Mars.
The project, published in New Phytologist and led by the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plants for Space (P4S), proves that plants are more than just food. They are survival tools. In the harsh environment of space, plants will recycle oxygen, purify water, and help manage waste.
Additionally, gardening provides a crucial mental health boost for astronauts isolated in deep space. To track this, the team developed a specific scale to test how well plants perform these life-support duties in space habitats.
Growing crops off-world poses huge challenges. On Earth, gravity helps water reach roots and keeps air moving. In space, microgravity messes with fluid dynamics and heat transfer, which can stunt growth. Scientists are currently studying how plants react to these strange environments to ensure crops don’t just survive, but thrive.
A major test is approaching quickly. In late 2027, NASA’s Artemis III mission will launch the “LEAF” experiment. This will mark the first time humans grow plants on the lunar surface. The mission involves planting three fast-growing species in a special chamber on the Moon. After a week, astronauts will bring samples back to Earth so researchers can analyze how the plants responded to the stress of low gravity and intense cosmic radiation.
The team is also using modern technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, to create “digital twins” of these plants. These digital models help predict how crops will behave and taste without running endless physical tests. Ultimately, learning to farm in the harsh environment of space teaches us how to grow food more sustainably in difficult climates right here at home.
