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Novel Hardware for a Lunar Plant Experiment We propose an experiment, LPX (Lunar plant growth experiment), on the surface of the Moon that will conduct a fundamental investigation into the response of the plant Arabidopsis to lunar gravity and lunar radiation. For statistical significance, we will include more than 50 seeds. The experiment begins after lunar landing with water added to the seed platform and continues for 10 days or more. The growth of the plants, reaching ~ 1 cm high with typically 3-4 leaves in 10 days, will be monitored by camera and the carbon dioxide in the sealed chamber also will be monitored. The hardware for the LPX is based on proven technology flown on the ISS in Dec 2019 (Kitto et al. 2021, Life Sci. Space Res. in press) and the “Phytofuge” canister for Techshot MVP (Multi-use Variable-gravity Platform) centrifuge – both on ISS now. Both of these systems are TRL 9. This approach will allow identical units to be sent to the Moon and to be flown on ISS - allowing direct comparisons to partial gravity experiments done on the ISS experiment. Germination and growth of Arabidopsis requires temperature range of 20–25°C with the optimum being 22–23°C (Shymanovich and Kiss 2020, Gravit. & Space Res., 8, 1-7). This level of thermal control is a challenge on a small lunar lander and is effectively set by the latitude of the landing site. Given the mass and power limitations on a small lander, and the internal power of the LPX (~ 5W) the landing site needs to be between 73° and 77° − for which the noon time lunar surface temperatures are +15°C and -3°C (Hurley et al. 2015, Icarus 255,159-163). Within this range the temperature can be set with a small thermostatically-controlled heater These proposed experiments would be the first to grow plants on another planet and would provide important insights in terms of growth of plants on the Moon as part of bioregenerative life support.
Document ID
20205011821
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Presentation
Authors
Christopher P Mckay
(Ames Research Center Mountain View, California, United States)
John Z. Kiss
(University of North Carolina at Greensboro Greensboro, North Carolina, United States)
Robert N Bowman
(Ames Research Center Mountain View, California, United States)
Mera Horne
(Ames Research Center Mountain View, California, United States)
Kamrul Choudhury
(Ames Research Center Mountain View, California, United States)
Date Acquired
December 28, 2020
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Meeting Information
Meeting: Lunar Surface Science Workshop
Location: Virtual
Country: US
Start Date: January 20, 2021
End Date: January 21, 2021
Sponsors: NASA
Funding Number(s)
WBS: 811073.02.09.02.84
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Portions of document may include copyright protected material.
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