First: there is now grow plants on the moon

For the first time in history, researchers have plants planted on the (back of the) moon. An ecosystem of less than three kilograms must Chinese scientists provide important information about the living conditions, so they are there as soon as possible, a space station can build.

at the Beginning of this year landed more than fifty years after the first moon landing, for the first time in history an unmanned Chinese spacecraft on “the dark side of the moon”. But it didn't stop there. Chinese researchers put in their a visit to a micro system on the back side of the moon for there plants to grow.

There is the past years or more there has been plantenprojecten on the moon, and in the meantime, even sunflowers in the space has grown. Until now were on the moon, however, never plants planted, until now. Chinese scientists hope the results of their project the important information to get on the ground and living conditions on the moon. That info they want to use there will be a habitable space station to build.

Seeds for potatoes and side

A micro system of 2.6 kilograms, that have Chinese researchers on the moon achergelaten. It contains more seeds of cotton and potatoes, but also, for example, fruitvliegpoppen and yeast. The ecosystem was in a tin, with a tube that natural sunlight, bringing. Thanks to that tube will the plants oxygen issue, which the silkworms from their cocoons. The insects will then carbon dioxide and waste to the plants ' growth to promote.

One of the biggest challenges for the growth, the temperature on the moon. That varies from 100 degrees during the day to -100 degrees at night. In addition, the low gravity is a second important factor in the growth process can affect it. The latest photos from the moon show however that the katoenenscheuten despite those difficulties to grow.