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Scientists want to learn how to grow potatoes on Mars
The scientists plan to use soil from the desert Pampas de La Joya, which is almost identical to the composition of the Martian soil i>
The joint project of NASA and the International Potato Center has an interesting target. Scientists plan to create similar conditions on Mars, to try to grow potatoes. The experiment was carried out on Earth. If the project will be real, then it is another step closer relocation to the Red Planet - because the potatoes will partially solve the planet's product for the colonists.
Initially, the colonists would not be able to provide themselves with food themselves 100%. But in part - be able, if they learn to grow potatoes and other plants. In the past, scientists have offered to test the possibility of growing plants in the Martian soil, but it was only a concept. Now the project is quite real - the conditions of Mars scientists are known, the composition of the soil in many areas - too. So it is possible to simulate such conditions.
As already stated in the announcement, the ground for experiments will be taken from the Peruvian desert Pampas de La Joya. In addition to the soil, it is necessary to repeat the weather conditions, and also to simulate the composition of the atmosphere. The Martian atmosphere is known to be about 95% of carbon dioxide.
In addition, Mars is not uniform, as they say. Now the world is more than 842 million people do not get enough food. Simply put, millions of people are malnourished and starving. A team of scientists, realizing the project, hoping that you can learn to grow potatoes in the most difficult climatic conditions. This may help reduce the urgency of the problem of hunger. But the main goal, of course - and this is Mars colonists.
By 2021, scientists at NASA expect to send to Mars live plants , Arabidopsis.
Of course, no one expects that the plants will be planted in open ground, they will not survive. The plants are placed in a protective capsule with artificial atmosphere, but - without protection from radiation. That's just the most worried about radiation scientists, and its effect will be checked for the first living astronauts - plants.
Curiosity second generation will go to Mars "green colonists" on board. Rather, go to Mars is not the plants and their seeds, which germinate in Arabidopsis quickly enough. Seeds will be in a special container, CubeSat, which will be attached to the body of the rover.
Source: geektimes.ru/post/268144/
