NASA has created a greenhouse for space colonizers (5 photos)

Trying to solve the problem of providing food for the astronauts, which in the near future to be landing on the moon, Mars and other planets, NASA experts and the University of Arizona suggested using an inflatable greenhouse “Lunar/Mars Greenhouse”. The development of imitating the climatic and other conditions of our planet, suitable for cultivation of various crops in extraterrestrial space.

Model cylindrical shape is to work on the closed principle, pumping the water through the root system of the plants and collecting the condensate. However, in order for this to work, the water will still have to deliver the Land or to find sources of life-giving water already in place — researchers have long puzzled by this problem.

All carbon dioxide exhaled by the participants of space missions, will be collected and transported to the greenhouse. Here the plants will recycle it into oxygen, which will return to the people. Thus, the “Lunar/Mars Greenhouse” will solve several problems at once, fully participating in the existence of small ecosystems. To protect the plants from excessive radiation will be placing the greenhouse under the ground.

As for photosynthesis, the colonists can use for illumination of plants. In the first case, this led lights, the second reflective solar panel light with fiber-optic cable. Both versions have already passed in simulating the space environment conditions and proved its effectiveness. The size of the pilot samples, “Lunar/Mars Greenhouse” — 2.44 × 5.49 meters.

Source: NASA