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












8












$begingroup$


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?










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    8












    $begingroup$


    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.







    $endgroup$















      8












      8








      8





      $begingroup$


      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






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      asked 12 hours ago









      Olivier GrégoireOlivier Grégoire

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      1434




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      New contributor





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          1 Answer
          1






          active

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          25












          $begingroup$

          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









          $endgroup$









          • 20




            $begingroup$
            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
            7 hours ago






          • 5




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













          Your Answer





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          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes








          1 Answer
          1






          active

          oldest

          votes









          active

          oldest

          votes






          active

          oldest

          votes









          25












          $begingroup$

          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









          $endgroup$









          • 20




            $begingroup$
            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
            7 hours ago






          • 5




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


















          25












          $begingroup$

          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









          $endgroup$









          • 20




            $begingroup$
            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
            7 hours ago






          • 5




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
















          25












          25








          25





          $begingroup$

          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 10 hours ago









          DarkDustDarkDust

          6,68432754




          6,68432754








          • 20




            $begingroup$
            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
            7 hours ago






          • 5




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
















          • 20




            $begingroup$
            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
            7 hours ago






          • 5




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










          20




          20




          $begingroup$
          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
          7 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
          7 hours ago




          5




          5




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






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












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










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