How did humans grow plants on the Moon despite the harsh conditions?












11












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The Chang'e 4 lander contains seeds to grow plants on the Moon. The Moon has non-sustainable life conditions. Among those are the lack of water, atmosphere, the varying extreme temperatures, the low gravity, the solar radiations, etc.



However at least one cotton plant has germed and is in the process of growing.



How did the CNSA engineers have the plants germ then grow on the Moon? And are the plants supposed to die of natural death or will the harsh conditions kill them, if such, which one first?










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    11












    $begingroup$


    The Chang'e 4 lander contains seeds to grow plants on the Moon. The Moon has non-sustainable life conditions. Among those are the lack of water, atmosphere, the varying extreme temperatures, the low gravity, the solar radiations, etc.



    However at least one cotton plant has germed and is in the process of growing.



    How did the CNSA engineers have the plants germ then grow on the Moon? And are the plants supposed to die of natural death or will the harsh conditions kill them, if such, which one first?










    share|improve this question







    New contributor




    Olivier Grégoire is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.







    $endgroup$















      11












      11








      11


      1



      $begingroup$


      The Chang'e 4 lander contains seeds to grow plants on the Moon. The Moon has non-sustainable life conditions. Among those are the lack of water, atmosphere, the varying extreme temperatures, the low gravity, the solar radiations, etc.



      However at least one cotton plant has germed and is in the process of growing.



      How did the CNSA engineers have the plants germ then grow on the Moon? And are the plants supposed to die of natural death or will the harsh conditions kill them, if such, which one first?










      share|improve this question







      New contributor




      Olivier Grégoire is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.







      $endgroup$




      The Chang'e 4 lander contains seeds to grow plants on the Moon. The Moon has non-sustainable life conditions. Among those are the lack of water, atmosphere, the varying extreme temperatures, the low gravity, the solar radiations, etc.



      However at least one cotton plant has germed and is in the process of growing.



      How did the CNSA engineers have the plants germ then grow on the Moon? And are the plants supposed to die of natural death or will the harsh conditions kill them, if such, which one first?







      the-moon life life-support chang-e






      share|improve this question







      New contributor




      Olivier Grégoire is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.











      share|improve this question







      New contributor




      Olivier Grégoire is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.









      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question






      New contributor




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      Check out our Code of Conduct.









      asked 19 hours ago









      Olivier GrégoireOlivier Grégoire

      15815




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      New contributor





      Olivier Grégoire is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.






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          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          31












          $begingroup$

          While it's still cool, it's not as tricky as it may sound at first:



          The seeds, including water, are stored in a sealed, heated and shielded container. The container also includes fruit flies and yeast. So the plants are not grown in the lunar soil (which would be the interesting and challenging next step) but in a portable, sealed ecosystem.



          (See for example this article, among many about this subject.)






          share|improve this answer









          $endgroup$









          • 25




            $begingroup$
            There is no soil on the moon. Lunar regolith has no organic components, which is the defining characteristic of a soil. Lunar regolith is only ground up rock: silica, iron, aluminium, and oxygen.
            $endgroup$
            – dotancohen
            14 hours ago






          • 7




            $begingroup$
            Tangentially, c.f. The Martian, and the process of making Mars "dirt" into something capable of supporting plant growth.
            $endgroup$
            – Adrien
            10 hours ago












          • $begingroup$
            The cotton seedling that sprouted has reportedly been killed by the cold now.
            $endgroup$
            – Robyn
            4 hours ago










          • $begingroup$
            @Robyn they probably turned off the heating and lights in the growing chamber the moment they had their publicity shots, in order to preserve the batteries of the lander during the lunar night.
            $endgroup$
            – jwenting
            35 mins ago










          • $begingroup$
            But they're all going to die right? There's no return mission? What are we learning from that other than visually?
            $endgroup$
            – Mazura
            11 mins ago











          Your Answer





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          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

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          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes









          31












          $begingroup$

          While it's still cool, it's not as tricky as it may sound at first:



          The seeds, including water, are stored in a sealed, heated and shielded container. The container also includes fruit flies and yeast. So the plants are not grown in the lunar soil (which would be the interesting and challenging next step) but in a portable, sealed ecosystem.



          (See for example this article, among many about this subject.)






          share|improve this answer









          $endgroup$









          • 25




            $begingroup$
            There is no soil on the moon. Lunar regolith has no organic components, which is the defining characteristic of a soil. Lunar regolith is only ground up rock: silica, iron, aluminium, and oxygen.
            $endgroup$
            – dotancohen
            14 hours ago






          • 7




            $begingroup$
            Tangentially, c.f. The Martian, and the process of making Mars "dirt" into something capable of supporting plant growth.
            $endgroup$
            – Adrien
            10 hours ago












          • $begingroup$
            The cotton seedling that sprouted has reportedly been killed by the cold now.
            $endgroup$
            – Robyn
            4 hours ago










          • $begingroup$
            @Robyn they probably turned off the heating and lights in the growing chamber the moment they had their publicity shots, in order to preserve the batteries of the lander during the lunar night.
            $endgroup$
            – jwenting
            35 mins ago










          • $begingroup$
            But they're all going to die right? There's no return mission? What are we learning from that other than visually?
            $endgroup$
            – Mazura
            11 mins ago
















          31












          $begingroup$

          While it's still cool, it's not as tricky as it may sound at first:



          The seeds, including water, are stored in a sealed, heated and shielded container. The container also includes fruit flies and yeast. So the plants are not grown in the lunar soil (which would be the interesting and challenging next step) but in a portable, sealed ecosystem.



          (See for example this article, among many about this subject.)






          share|improve this answer









          $endgroup$









          • 25




            $begingroup$
            There is no soil on the moon. Lunar regolith has no organic components, which is the defining characteristic of a soil. Lunar regolith is only ground up rock: silica, iron, aluminium, and oxygen.
            $endgroup$
            – dotancohen
            14 hours ago






          • 7




            $begingroup$
            Tangentially, c.f. The Martian, and the process of making Mars "dirt" into something capable of supporting plant growth.
            $endgroup$
            – Adrien
            10 hours ago












          • $begingroup$
            The cotton seedling that sprouted has reportedly been killed by the cold now.
            $endgroup$
            – Robyn
            4 hours ago










          • $begingroup$
            @Robyn they probably turned off the heating and lights in the growing chamber the moment they had their publicity shots, in order to preserve the batteries of the lander during the lunar night.
            $endgroup$
            – jwenting
            35 mins ago










          • $begingroup$
            But they're all going to die right? There's no return mission? What are we learning from that other than visually?
            $endgroup$
            – Mazura
            11 mins ago














          31












          31








          31





          $begingroup$

          While it's still cool, it's not as tricky as it may sound at first:



          The seeds, including water, are stored in a sealed, heated and shielded container. The container also includes fruit flies and yeast. So the plants are not grown in the lunar soil (which would be the interesting and challenging next step) but in a portable, sealed ecosystem.



          (See for example this article, among many about this subject.)






          share|improve this answer









          $endgroup$



          While it's still cool, it's not as tricky as it may sound at first:



          The seeds, including water, are stored in a sealed, heated and shielded container. The container also includes fruit flies and yeast. So the plants are not grown in the lunar soil (which would be the interesting and challenging next step) but in a portable, sealed ecosystem.



          (See for example this article, among many about this subject.)







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 17 hours ago









          DarkDustDarkDust

          6,73432854




          6,73432854








          • 25




            $begingroup$
            There is no soil on the moon. Lunar regolith has no organic components, which is the defining characteristic of a soil. Lunar regolith is only ground up rock: silica, iron, aluminium, and oxygen.
            $endgroup$
            – dotancohen
            14 hours ago






          • 7




            $begingroup$
            Tangentially, c.f. The Martian, and the process of making Mars "dirt" into something capable of supporting plant growth.
            $endgroup$
            – Adrien
            10 hours ago












          • $begingroup$
            The cotton seedling that sprouted has reportedly been killed by the cold now.
            $endgroup$
            – Robyn
            4 hours ago










          • $begingroup$
            @Robyn they probably turned off the heating and lights in the growing chamber the moment they had their publicity shots, in order to preserve the batteries of the lander during the lunar night.
            $endgroup$
            – jwenting
            35 mins ago










          • $begingroup$
            But they're all going to die right? There's no return mission? What are we learning from that other than visually?
            $endgroup$
            – Mazura
            11 mins ago














          • 25




            $begingroup$
            There is no soil on the moon. Lunar regolith has no organic components, which is the defining characteristic of a soil. Lunar regolith is only ground up rock: silica, iron, aluminium, and oxygen.
            $endgroup$
            – dotancohen
            14 hours ago






          • 7




            $begingroup$
            Tangentially, c.f. The Martian, and the process of making Mars "dirt" into something capable of supporting plant growth.
            $endgroup$
            – Adrien
            10 hours ago












          • $begingroup$
            The cotton seedling that sprouted has reportedly been killed by the cold now.
            $endgroup$
            – Robyn
            4 hours ago










          • $begingroup$
            @Robyn they probably turned off the heating and lights in the growing chamber the moment they had their publicity shots, in order to preserve the batteries of the lander during the lunar night.
            $endgroup$
            – jwenting
            35 mins ago










          • $begingroup$
            But they're all going to die right? There's no return mission? What are we learning from that other than visually?
            $endgroup$
            – Mazura
            11 mins ago








          25




          25




          $begingroup$
          There is no soil on the moon. Lunar regolith has no organic components, which is the defining characteristic of a soil. Lunar regolith is only ground up rock: silica, iron, aluminium, and oxygen.
          $endgroup$
          – dotancohen
          14 hours ago




          $begingroup$
          There is no soil on the moon. Lunar regolith has no organic components, which is the defining characteristic of a soil. Lunar regolith is only ground up rock: silica, iron, aluminium, and oxygen.
          $endgroup$
          – dotancohen
          14 hours ago




          7




          7




          $begingroup$
          Tangentially, c.f. The Martian, and the process of making Mars "dirt" into something capable of supporting plant growth.
          $endgroup$
          – Adrien
          10 hours ago






          $begingroup$
          Tangentially, c.f. The Martian, and the process of making Mars "dirt" into something capable of supporting plant growth.
          $endgroup$
          – Adrien
          10 hours ago














          $begingroup$
          The cotton seedling that sprouted has reportedly been killed by the cold now.
          $endgroup$
          – Robyn
          4 hours ago




          $begingroup$
          The cotton seedling that sprouted has reportedly been killed by the cold now.
          $endgroup$
          – Robyn
          4 hours ago












          $begingroup$
          @Robyn they probably turned off the heating and lights in the growing chamber the moment they had their publicity shots, in order to preserve the batteries of the lander during the lunar night.
          $endgroup$
          – jwenting
          35 mins ago




          $begingroup$
          @Robyn they probably turned off the heating and lights in the growing chamber the moment they had their publicity shots, in order to preserve the batteries of the lander during the lunar night.
          $endgroup$
          – jwenting
          35 mins ago












          $begingroup$
          But they're all going to die right? There's no return mission? What are we learning from that other than visually?
          $endgroup$
          – Mazura
          11 mins ago




          $begingroup$
          But they're all going to die right? There's no return mission? What are we learning from that other than visually?
          $endgroup$
          – Mazura
          11 mins ago










          Olivier Grégoire is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










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