Abstract
Human space exploration cannot occur without reliable provision of nutritious and palatable food to sustain physical and mental well-being. This ultimately will depend upon efficient production of food in space, with on-site manufacturing on space stations or the future human colonies on celestial bodies. Extraterrestrial environments are by their nature foreign, and exposure to various kinds of plant stressors likely cannot be avoided. But this also offers opportunities to rethink food production as a whole. We are used to the boundaries of the Earth ecosystem such as its standard temperature range, oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations, plus diel cycles of light, and we are unfamiliar with liberating ourselves from those boundaries. However, space research, performed both in true outer space and with mimicked space conditions on Earth, can help explore plant growth from its ‘first principles’. In this sense, this perspective paper aims to highlight fundamental opportunities for plant growth in space, with a new perspective on the subject. Conditions in space are evidently demanding for plant growth, and this produces “stress”. Yet, this stress can be seen as positive or negative. With the positive view, we discuss whether plant production systems could proactively leverage stresses instead of always combatting against them. With an engineering view, we focus, in particular, on the opportunities associated with radiation exposure (visible light, UV, gamma, cosmic). Rather than adapting Earth conditions into space, we advocate on rethinking the whole issue; we propose there are opportunities to exploit space conditions, commonly seen as threats, to benefit space farming.
Highlights
Space Farming as Part of Human Space ExplorationSpace exploration has intrigued humans for decades; with much of our wonder stemming from the unknown
Plant stressors will happen in space in a way we cannot predict,yet, we must rely on Earth experiences as the first and best approximation
We have aimed to provide insight to above space stressor problem from the standpoint of both biologists and system engineers
Summary
Space exploration has intrigued humans for decades; with much of our wonder stemming from the unknown. Sustainable “life-environment crop-growth ecosystems” need to be developed in conjunction with the science of how plants grow in space (Figure 1). Space farming studies have been made since the early years of space launches (Harvey and Zakutnyaya, 2011) and have become steady since the ISS commenced establishment in 1998, which is humankind’s sole laboratory above Earth at present (Figure 2). This will soon be joined the low Earth orbit Chinese Tiangong space station currently being assembled in space (Shen et al, 2018) and the ISS is currently scheduled for staged replacement by the Axiom Lunar Gateway from Axiom Space onwards (Ekblaw, 2020). The importance of plant growth and development in outer space is critical for crewed missions, from a nutrients’ perspective and from a psychological one (Zabel et al, 2016; History and timeline of t, 2019)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
