Green Thumbs for the Green Thumbs for the Red PlanetRed Planet

Jacque JacksonJacque Jackson

The Vision for Space The Vision for Space Exploration Exploration

January 2004 - President George W. January 2004 - President George W. Bush outlined an ambitious plan for Bush outlined an ambitious plan for NASA's future exploration of the solar NASA's future exploration of the solar system, including human missions to system, including human missions to Mars.Mars.

NASA – Human Spaceflight (web article)NASA – Human Spaceflight (web article)

ProblemProblem

Long term establishments would Long term establishments would require self-sufficiency.require self-sufficiency.

It would be desirable to decrease It would be desirable to decrease required payload.required payload.

Our PropositionOur Proposition

The greenhouse would be The greenhouse would be pressurized at the same pressure as pressurized at the same pressure as the living habitat.the living habitat.

Our PropositionOur Proposition Pressurized with Martian air (95% Pressurized with Martian air (95%

COCO22) with some oxygen to allow for ) with some oxygen to allow for plant respiration.plant respiration.

Fact or fiction?Fact or fiction?

Studies do show that elevated levels of COStudies do show that elevated levels of CO22 increase plant growth by more than 20% in increase plant growth by more than 20% in some plants.some plants.– Gouk, S.S., He, J. and Hew, C.S.  1999.  Changes in photosynthetic capability and Gouk, S.S., He, J. and Hew, C.S.  1999.  Changes in photosynthetic capability and

carbohydrate production in an epiphytic CAM orchid plantlet exposed to super-carbohydrate production in an epiphytic CAM orchid plantlet exposed to super-elevated COelevated CO22.  .  Environmental and Experimental BotanyEnvironmental and Experimental Botany 4141: 219-230. : 219-230.

– Tisserat, B. and Vaughn, S.F.  2003.  Ultra-high COTisserat, B. and Vaughn, S.F.  2003.  Ultra-high CO22 levels enhance loblolly pine levels enhance loblolly pine seedling growth, morphogenesis, and secondary metabolism.  seedling growth, morphogenesis, and secondary metabolism.  HortScienceHortScience 3838: : 1083-1085. 1083-1085.

– Hew, C.S., Hin, S.E., Yong, J.W.H., Gouk, S.S. and Tanaka, M.  1995.  Hew, C.S., Hin, S.E., Yong, J.W.H., Gouk, S.S. and Tanaka, M.  1995.  In vitroIn vitro CO CO22 enrichment of CAM orchid plantlets.  enrichment of CAM orchid plantlets.  Journal of Horticultural ScienceJournal of Horticultural Science 7070: 721-736. : 721-736.

However, from a botanist’s view, “super-However, from a botanist’s view, “super-elevated COelevated CO22” means 35,000 ppm, or 3.5%.” means 35,000 ppm, or 3.5%.

Will plants grow in 95% Will plants grow in 95% COCO22??

Preliminary ResultsPreliminary Results

New Location - roof of the Eyring Science Center (where New Location - roof of the Eyring Science Center (where the plants can receive natural sunlight)the plants can receive natural sunlight)– Advantage: more realistic lightAdvantage: more realistic light– Disadvantage: less controlled environmentDisadvantage: less controlled environment

RelocationRelocation

Previous location – incubation room in the Previous location – incubation room in the Widtsoe BuildingWidtsoe Building

EfficiencyEfficiency

Martian agriculture will have a very Martian agriculture will have a very strong incentive to be efficient.strong incentive to be efficient.

For almost any agricultural plant of For almost any agricultural plant of interest, at least half the plant is interest, at least half the plant is never used.never used.

Solution: QuinoaSolution: Quinoa

Bolivian grainBolivian grain Entire plant—root, stem, Entire plant—root, stem,

and leaves—are edible and leaves—are edible and nutritious.and nutritious.

Robust plant, Robust plant, accustomed to low accustomed to low temperatures and temperatures and pressures.pressures.

Has done well through all Has done well through all of our experimenting.of our experimenting.

Solution: QuinoaSolution: Quinoa

Nutritional value – high Nutritional value – high in protein and fiberin protein and fiber

Flavor – light, sweet, Flavor – light, sweet, and slightly nuttyand slightly nutty

Added advantage – Added advantage – also has medicinal also has medicinal applications such as applications such as skin healingskin healing

ConclusionsConclusions

Plants can grow in Mars-ambient Plants can grow in Mars-ambient levels of COlevels of CO22..

Quinoa is a good candidate for a Quinoa is a good candidate for a Martian greenhouse in that it is Martian greenhouse in that it is efficient and nutritious.efficient and nutritious.

Future ResearchFuture Research

Test quinoa growth for longer time Test quinoa growth for longer time periods in 95% COperiods in 95% CO22

Effects of Martian levels of sunlight Effects of Martian levels of sunlight (43% that of Earth)(43% that of Earth)

Rate of conversion of CORate of conversion of CO22 to O to O22 and and its applicationsits applications

Other types of plants that do well in Other types of plants that do well in this environmentthis environment

Future ResearchFuture Research

Make a mixture of air that more Make a mixture of air that more closely approximates that of Mars and closely approximates that of Mars and test plant growth in this air mixturetest plant growth in this air mixture

95+% CO95+% CO2,2,

2.7% N2.7% N22

1.8% Ar1.8% Ar 0.13% O0.13% O22

0.07% CO0.07% CO other negligible amountsother negligible amounts

Future ResearchFuture Research Set up an apparatus at the Mars Set up an apparatus at the Mars

Desert Research Station to grow Desert Research Station to grow quinoa for the consumption of the quinoa for the consumption of the rotation crewsrotation crews

MDRS Greenhouse

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Dr. David AllredDr. David Allred Niki FarnsworthNiki Farnsworth Tim O’ConnorTim O’Connor Doug ArcherDoug Archer Jon and Richard MaginotJon and Richard Maginot Honors 343R – The Sweet Mars ClassHonors 343R – The Sweet Mars Class The Brigham Young University The Brigham Young University

Physics DepartmentPhysics Department