Growing Plants In Lunar Gravity 111
smooth wombat writes "If everything goes according to plan, an experiment designed to test whether plants can grow in the limited lunar gravity will hitch a ride with a competitor for the Google Lunar X Prize. 'The current prototype for the greenhouse is a 15-inch-high (37.5-centimeter-high) reinforced glass cylinder that's about 7 inches (18 centimeters) wide on the bottom. Seeds for a rapid-cycle type of Brassica plant — basically, mustard seeds — would be planted in Earth soil within the container.' The press release from Paragon Space Development Corporation outlines its partnership with Odyssey Moon to be the first to grow a plant on another world. In addition to the experiment, Paragon will be helping Odyssey with the thermal control system and lander design. To win the prize, Odyssey must land its craft on the lunar surface by the end of 2014."
My brain must be going stupid (Score:5, Funny)
Re:My brain must be going stupid (Score:4, Funny)
Re:What about... (Score:3, Funny)
Normally if you held your head over a desk and jumped into the air gravity would would make you crack your head on the desk when you came down. Now, if instead of jumping up you just thrust your head straight down to the desk your head would be in zero gravity and gravity wouldn't cause you to crack your head on the desk.
I for one am interested to see how this plays out, be sure to let us know if you try it.
Re:Why? (Score:5, Funny)
Speak for yourself, I just don't have access to a lab and all of those cool gadgets. :)
Re:Plants grow in microgravity. (Score:5, Funny)
If you are taking off with a sack of seeds to colonize the moon, and planning to live off the land, like early pioneers, you might want to be certain that your plants will grow there.
The European South African settlers who ventured too far north were screwed when they discovered that their plants would not grow in the tropics.
(I hear the voices of thousands of Slashdotters screaming, "Are you suggesting that the moon has a tropical climate?")
And the choice of mustard seeds is not a bad one, from a survivalist view: I remember many a nights during my cashless college days, when dinner was a "Mustard Sandwich" . . . mustard on bread. As Benjamin Franklin wrote, "Hunger never saw bad bread."
But before I sign up for the Moon Colony Mission, I would like to know the effects of Lunar Gravity on my preferred diet: Philly Cheesesteaks, beer, canned Chilli, chips, Taco Cabana take-out, another cheesesteak, more beer . . .
They should make it a fern instead... (Score:3, Funny)
... and then release the spores!
Re:My brain must be going stupid (Score:4, Funny)
Obligatory: "That's no small moon."
"It's a data center."
Re:What about... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Plants grow in microgravity. (Score:5, Funny)
But before I sign up for the Moon Colony Mission, I would like to know the effects of Lunar Gravity on my preferred diet: Philly Cheesesteaks, beer, canned Chilli, chips, Taco Cabana take-out, another cheesesteak, more beer . . .
With that diet, I'd be more worried about the effects of methane buildup on the lunar habs..
Bio power source. (Score:3, Funny)
With that diet, I'd be more worried about the effects of methane buildup on the lunar habs..
I think You instantly solved the problem of having a source of bio renewable fuel for the colonists...