Green Thumbs for the Red Planet

1. Green Thumbs for the Red Planet Jacque Jackson

2. The Vision for Space Exploration • January 2004 - President George W. Bush outlined an ambitious plan for NASA's future exploration of the solar system, including human missions to Mars. NASA – Human Spaceflight (web article)

3. Problem • Long term establishments would require self-sufficiency. • It would be desirable to decrease required payload.

4. Our Proposition • The greenhouse would be pressurized at the same pressure as the living habitat.

5. Our Proposition • Pressurized with Martian air (95% CO2) with some oxygen to allow for plant respiration.

6. Fact or fiction? • Studies do show that elevated levels of CO2 increase plant growth by more than 20% in some plants. • 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-elevated CO2.  Environmental and Experimental Botany41: 219-230. • Tisserat, B. and Vaughn, S.F.  2003.  Ultra-high CO2 levels enhance loblolly pine seedling growth, morphogenesis, and secondary metabolism.  HortScience38: 1083-1085. • Hew, C.S., Hin, S.E., Yong, J.W.H., Gouk, S.S. and Tanaka, M.  1995.  In vitro CO2 enrichment of CAM orchid plantlets.  Journal of Horticultural Science70: 721-736. • However, from a botanist’s view, “super-elevated CO2” means 35,000 ppm, or 3.5%.

7. Will plants grow in 95% CO2?

8. Preliminary Results

9. Relocation • Previous location – incubation room in the Widtsoe Building • New Location - roof of the Eyring Science Center (where the plants can receive natural sunlight) • Advantage: more realistic light • Disadvantage: less controlled environment

10. Efficiency • Martian agriculture will have a very strong incentive to be efficient. • For almost any agricultural plant of interest, at least half the plant is never used.

11. Solution: Quinoa • Bolivian grain • Entire plant—root, stem, and leaves—are edible and nutritious. • Robust plant, accustomed to low temperatures and pressures. • Has done well through all of our experimenting.

12. Solution: Quinoa • Nutritional value – high in protein and fiber • Flavor – light, sweet, and slightly nutty • Added advantage – also has medicinal applications such as skin healing

13. Conclusions • Plants can grow in Mars-ambient levels of CO2. • Quinoa is a good candidate for a Martian greenhouse in that it is efficient and nutritious.

14. Future Research • Test quinoa growth for longer time periods in 95% CO2 • Effects of Martian levels of sunlight (43% that of Earth) • Rate of conversion of CO2 to O2 and its applications • Other types of plants that do well in this environment

15. Future Research • Make a mixture of air that more closely approximates that of Mars and test plant growth in this air mixture • 95+% CO2, • 2.7% N2 • 1.8% Ar • 0.13% O2 • 0.07% CO • other negligible amounts

16. Future Research • Set up an apparatus at the Mars Desert Research Station to grow quinoa for the consumption of the rotation crews MDRS Greenhouse

17. Acknowledgements • Dr. David Allred • Niki Farnsworth • Tim O’Connor • Doug Archer • Jon and Richard Maginot • Honors 343R – The Sweet Mars Class • The Brigham Young University Physics Department