NASA has been working on colonizing Mars for years, they have even successful growing plants in space before. Now, they have worked on a new prototype that is on a much larger scale.
An inflatable greenhouse has been designed by NASA and the University of Arizona, solving one of the biggest problems of space exploration – sustaining life on Mars for years.
The University of Arizona’s agriculture department teamed up with NASA to create the prototype of Lunar/Mars Greenhouse project. The greenhouse is inflatable and opens into a cylindrical structure that is 18 feet long and 7 feet in diameter. The greenhouse uses a process known as bio-regenerative life support system that mimics the process of the plants that grow on Earth.
NASA’s lead scientist on the project, Ray Wheeler explained at a press release, “The approach uses plants to scrub carbon dioxide while providing food and oxygen.”
The plants in the greenhouse will use the carbon dioxide exhaled by the astronauts in return allowing the plants to generate oxygen. Water will be taken from Earth for starters and the excess water will be recycled and stored in a storage bin. Before watering the plants the water is oxygenated and given nutrient salts.
Wheeler explained in simple terms, “The entire system of the lunar greenhouse does represent, in a small way, the biological systems that are here on Earth.”
At present research is being carried out to decide what plants are most suitable to grow in space and on Mars, in particular.
