WEB DESK: NASA is planning to grow plants on the Moon for the first time when it sends humans back to the lunar surface.
The United States space agency announced that the Artemis III astronauts will deploy a series of growth chambers containing thale cress and duckweed to see how the plants fare in partial gravity, and cope with the rigours of space radiation.
NASA plans to introduce red and green varieties of Brassica rapa, known as Wisconsin fast plants, renowned for their swift life cycle, to gain further insights into plant growth and adaptation in space conditions. the fast-growing relatives of cabbage and broccoli go from seed to plant to flower in 14 days.
The mission, which will be the first Moon landing since 1972, is due for launch in September 2026, and is preparing the way for a permanent base to be established. Growing crops on the lunar surface would mean less food would need to be shipped from Earth, while plants such as duckweed can also provide large amounts of oxygen
