Lunar Greenhouse
Various Fertilizers’ Effect on Plant Growth in Moon Regolith
Objective
We will be making a five by three inch greenhouse that will allow us to test how effective various
fertilizers are for growing plants in moon regolith. By monitoring the growth of the plant, we will be able
to see different fertilizers effects on the moon’s soil.
Why?
To create sustainable life on another planet we need the ability to grow food. This experiment will help us
understand how moon soil affects plant growth as well as identifying the best type of fertilizer to use in
the future.
Design
A five by three inch transparent solar cell will be vacuum sealed, much like a thermos, to keep the inside
temperature of the container constant. The transparent solar cell will work as a power source and a
greenhouse for our experiment; however, an external power source will be needed. An Archimedean
screw will be used to bring soil into the first chamber. The Archimedean’s screw will be inside of a tube.
One end of the tube will be sealed as we drill into the soil so that we don't expose the inside of the second
chamber to the vacuum of space. Once the drill has filled the tube with regolith, we will close both ends
of the tube and add heat and pressurized atmospheric gases. Small-pressurized canisters of necessary
gases will be placed in the bottom of the container near the drill. Sensors will measure the air makeup as
well as the temperature of the container. Once the regolith is heated and in a stable environment we will
bring the regolith into the central container located at the bottom of the main container. This container is
also where the fertilizer will be. We will then mix the soil and fertilizer. After the soil is mixed it will be
pushed into the second chamber where we will add a seed and water. A camera will monitor the growth of
the plants.
Concept Sketch
1. Archimedes screw used to excavate and raise
soil into the first and second chambers
2. Power for all electrical components
3. Electric heaters used to increase the
temperature of moon regolith
4. Pressurized gases (oxygen, nitrogen, other
gases) for atmospheric regulation
5. First chamber used to mix soil with fertilizer
6. Second chamber for planting of the seed
7. Device to water the soil and plant
8. Upward sloping cone to keep soil centered
9. Camera
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JizM5K4m54w&f
eature=youtu.be