Eat Antarctic cucumbers and tomatoes. One more step to Martian horticulture

Eat Antarctic cucumbers and tomatoes. One more step to Martian horticulture

Researcher Paul Zabel poses with kohlrabi gathered in an EDEN ISS greenhouse in Antarctica

Anyone want to try fresh vegetables on Mars? Soon it will be possible! The Antarctic greenhouse EDEN ISS not only survived the polar night, but also managed to please the crop of local researchers. This reinforces the hope that Martian colonists will also be able to enjoy fresh produce on the Red Planet.

Maintaining a temperature of -40 ° C, the greenhouse grew herbs, lettuce and other vegetables for 10 people, which are sent for wintering to the remote station Neumayer III. For the first time the greenhouse managed to work the winter. The development of the program took more than six months and now the concept of a self-sufficient greenhouse seems to be effective for climatically demanding terrestrial areas and future manned missions to the Moon and Mars.

The crop was so abundant that the residents of the station did not deny themselves the luxury of eating fresh salad for a few days in the winter.

Eat Antarctic cucumbers and tomatoes. One more step to Martian horticulture

The thermal transport box is located in front of the Antarctic greenhouse EDEN ISS, which tests the ability to grow food in Martian conditions The parcel was 77 kg of lettuce, 51 kg of cucumbers, 29 kg of tomatoes, 12 kg of kohlrabi, 9 kg of herbs and 5 kg of radishes. All cultures were cultivated and grown on an area of ​​13 m 2. However, due to pollination problems, strawberries and peppers did not yield a crop. Sometimes Zabel had to refuse to visit the greenhouse due to bad weather (400 m to the greenhouse). Then the scientist carried out urgent repairs (for example, fixing the screw in the heat system).

Eat Antarctic cucumbers and tomatoes. One more step to Martian horticulture

Path to EDEN ISS in Antarctica

The harvest should also examine the quality of the crop, collect microbiological samples and check the system (light, temperature control and air supply enriched with nutrients and carbon dioxide). He also had to report on how fresh products improve the health of team members.

The EDEN ISS website regularly provides updates to the public, including photos of individual mailboxes. Take pictures every day.

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