As scientists are getting closer and closer to the prospect
of humans on Mars, the topic of gardening on Mars is
becoming very prevalent. If humans want to inhabit
Mars, gardening and agriculture is a necessity. Not
only would the plants produce oxygen to make Mars
more inhabitable for humans, but astronauts can use the
remains of crops as compost and make the soil mineral-
rich. The crucial things for humans on Mars are the
availability of oxygen, shelter, food, and water, not just
endless consumables delivered to the planet from Earth.
For humans to live long-term on Mars, they will need a
self-sustaining habitat to be able to thrive in for
generations. If it costs $80,000 to transport water to the
moon, the price of transporting other supplies in addition
to water to Mars would be astronomical.
Overview andIntroduction to Life andAgriculture on MarsWhat does life and farming look like? Is it
even possible?
GARDENING ON THERED PLANET
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OVERVIEW ANDINTRODUCTION TO LIFEON MARS
SOIL ON MARS ANDHOW TO CREATE MORENUTRIENTS
WATER ON MARS?
STEP BY STEP GUIDE ONBUILDING A GARDEN
I N T H I S G U I D E
By Daryn F
Having healthy soil for plants to grow in is one of the biggest problems with gardening on mars. In
“The Martian,” Mark Watney uses the Martian soil to grow potatoes in the controlled environment of
the “Hab”, but just collecting soil from the surface and planting crops in it is completely unrealistic.
Although Mars does have many of the nutrients plants need to survive, there might not be the right
amount of nutrients where the astronauts land. But this has an easy fix; just add fertilizer (possibly
feces) to meet the needs of the plants. One issue that is harder to address is the pervasive
perchlorates that are in Martian soil. Perchlorates are reactive chemicals that are commonly used in
munitions, fireworks, explosives, and pool chlorination chemicals. It was first detected on Mars in
arctic soil by NASA’s Phoenix lander that plopped down on Mars over 10 years ago in May 2008. Also,
NASA’s curiosity rover found rchlorates within the Gale Crater. However, there might be a solution.
Soil and MineralsHow do we incorporate more nutrients in the soil?
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Plants such as lettuce, potatoes, radishes, and mung bean
have been shown to grow in Mars-like conditions,
however, for the plants to live (and the humans to breathe)
they would need some sort of protection or greenhouse that
could keep the extreme UV radiation at bay and the biting
cold. In The Martian, a science fiction book by Andy Weir
and a blockbuster film starring Matt Damon, Mark Watney
manages to grow potatoes, but the plants freeze to death
almost instantly when he accidentally exposes his farm to
cold temperatures. Farming on Mars is possible, but lots of
processes need to be in place to achieve such an enormous
task. This guidebook will cover all the things you need to
know about gardening on Mars and give step-by-step
instructions on how to do it.
Obtaining water on Mars is one of the other major problems
regarding gardening on the red planet. Almost all water on
Mars today exists as ice, though it also exists in small
quantities as vapor in the atmosphere. So the problem isn't
finding water, its making it usable. One idea researchers had
was microwaving the ice to create water, but ice is only found
in the arctic regions of Mars, where astronauts would not be
landing. In the blockbuster film "The Martian", Mark Watney
nearly kills himself by trying to make water by burning
oxygen and hydrogen together because of a huge explosion.
This method isn't ideal for settlers on Mars because fire and
space equipment do not mix. However, researchers have also
created technology that turns urine into drinking water, and
water suitable for plants. Even though nothing has been set in
stone, usable water will be on Mars one way or another.
Water on Mars?How will we obtain water?
P H O T O B Y M A R T I N R . S M I T H
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Microbes on Earth use perchlorate for
an energy source. When there is too
much perchlorate in drinking water,
microbes are used to clean it up.
Researchers have proposed a
biochemical approach for the removal
of perchlorate from Martian soil that
would not only be energetically cheap
and environmentally friendly but until
more experiments are conducted and
more discoveries are made,
perchlorates will remain a huge
problem for organic life on Mars.
MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHORGardening on Mars is a very real possibility that we will have to face if we are to ever inhabit the plant.
We have a little more research and experimentation to do to be prepared to go to Mars, however, many of
the things I discuss should be ready in the near future. I hope this article taught you about the intricacies
of living on Mars and gave you some insight about finding resources on Mars.
STEP-BY-STEPINSTRUCTION GUIDE
O N B U I L D I N G A G A R D E N B E L O W .