Lunar Greenhouse

NASA HUNCH Academy

Investigation Stations about Designing a Lunar Greenhouse

The Investigation Stations for the Lunar Greenhouse answers the BIG Question

What will it take to construct a greenhouse on the Moon?

• What growth medium that meets the requirements for plants to grow in a Lunar Greenhouse?
• What would be the most efficient way to water the plants?
• How does lighting and phototropism effects the plants?
• Can the design of your greenhouse provide fresh air to the astronauts’ habitat?
• How will the plants be pollinated?
• Can the lunar greenhouse be a place for astronauts to relax in?

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One of my favorite Podcast is Houston We Have a Podcast

Please visit Houston We Have A Podcast Episode 258 at https://www.nasa.gov/podcasts/houston-we-have-a-podcast/moon-farming/ to learn more about What it will take to grow plants on the MOON!

Why do Astronauts need to grow their own food in a greenhouse on the Moon and Beyond?

• The Moon is about 240, 000 miles from Earth and at this distance, the cost of shipping food to the moon would be prohibitive at about $1.2 million dollars per pound!

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• The Lunar environment is not conducive to growing plants because of its
• Extreme temperature variations from as much as + 250 to – 250 degrees Fahrenheit
• High Levels of radiation because the moon only has a very thin atmosphere
• The Lunar soil called regolith is made of sharp rock fragments that are dangerous for astronauts to breath into their lungs

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• Can you help by designing a Lunar Greenhouse? The best designs
• Need the minimum of material shipped to the Moon,
• Need the smallest amount of space in the cargo rocket going to the Moon
• The simplest design so less things can break!

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