NASA astronomers are working hard on a scientific project that replicates Mars' gravity as a way to observe agricultural viability in space. They develop a greenhouse inside a satellite that simulates both the gravitational pull of moon and Mars. The project will help prepare for future human settlement on the Red Planet.
Currently, the project is undergoing preparations as scientists plan out their approach to space farming. The satellite, Eu:CROPIS spacecraft, will attempt to create the greenhouse, and has already been scheduled to launch later this year. It will be the venue where scientists will conduct plant-growth experiments in both lunar and Martian gravity.
The replication of the Martian gravity will take place six months after the satellite will try to produce the gravitational force of the moon. It will rotate around its own axis in low-Earth orbit, at an altitude of over 370 miles (600 kilometers). During this time, tomato seeds will germinate and grow into small space tomatoes with 16 onboard cameras documenting the plants' progress, the Space.com reports.
Microorganisms in a trickle filter will use synthetic urine to manufacture fertilizer for the tomatoes. Eu:CROPIS team members explain that they're using Euglena microbes to produce oxygen for the system and supply it with protection against excess ammonia. To provide light for the plants, LED light will be used to simulate day/night rhythm, the Space Flight Insider reports.
The creation of a Martian gravity in the satellite's greenhouse is to test whether the planet can support a nourishing habitat for plants. Biologist Jens Hauslage of the German Aerospace Center says that the system will also manage and control conversion of waste into fertilizer. The aim is to observe how well plants could adapt to reduced-gravity conditions since the gravitational pull on the moon is approximately one-sixth of what it is on Earth, and on Mars it is around one-third.
