Green Thumbs for the
Red Planet
Jacque Jackson
The Vision for Space Exploration

January 2004 - President George W. Bush
outlined an ambitious plan for NASA's
future exploration of the solar system,
including human missions to Mars.
NASA – Human Spaceflight (web article)
Problem

Long term establishments would require
self-sufficiency.

It would be desirable to decrease required
payload.
Our Proposition

The greenhouse would be pressurized at
the same pressure as the living habitat.
Our Proposition

Pressurized with Martian air (95% CO2)
with some oxygen to allow for plant
respiration.
Fact or fiction?

Studies do show that elevated levels of CO2
increase plant growth by more than 20% in
some plants.
–
–
–

Gouk, S.S., He, J. and Hew, C.S. 1999. Changes in photosynthetic capability and
carbohydrate production in an epiphytic CAM orchid plantlet exposed to super-elevated
CO2. Environmental and Experimental Botany 41: 219-230.
Tisserat, B. and Vaughn, S.F. 2003. Ultra-high CO2 levels enhance loblolly pine seedling
growth, morphogenesis, and secondary metabolism. HortScience 38: 1083-1085.
Hew, C.S., Hin, S.E., Yong, J.W.H., Gouk, S.S. and Tanaka, M. 1995. In vitro CO2
enrichment of CAM orchid plantlets. Journal of Horticultural Science 70: 721-736.
However, from a botanist’s view, “super-elevated
CO2” means 35,000 ppm, or 3.5%.
Will plants grow in 95% CO2?
Preliminary Results
Relocation


Previous location – incubation room in the
Widtsoe Building
New Location - roof of the Eyring Science
Center (where the plants can receive natural
sunlight)
– Advantage: more realistic light
– Disadvantage: less controlled environment
Efficiency

Martian agriculture will have a very strong
incentive to be efficient.

For almost any agricultural plant of
interest, at least half the plant is never
used.
Solution: Quinoa
Bolivian grain
 Entire plant—root, stem, and
leaves—are edible and
nutritious.
 Robust plant, accustomed to
low temperatures and
pressures.
 Has done well through all of
our experimenting.

Solution: Quinoa
Nutritional value – high in
protein and fiber
 Flavor – light, sweet, and
slightly nutty
 Added advantage – also
has medicinal applications
such as skin healing

Conclusions

Plants can grow in Mars-ambient levels of
CO2.

Quinoa is a good candidate for a Martian
greenhouse in that it is efficient and
nutritious.
Future Research
Test quinoa growth for longer time periods
in 95% CO2
 Effects of Martian levels of sunlight (43%
that of Earth)
 Rate of conversion of CO2 to O2 and its
applications
 Other types of plants that do well in this
environment

Future Research

Make a mixture of air that more closely
approximates that of Mars and test plant
growth in this air mixture
 95+% CO2,
 2.7% N2
 1.8% Ar
 0.13% O2
 0.07% CO
 other negligible amounts
Future Research

Set up an apparatus at the Mars Desert
Research Station to grow quinoa for the
consumption of the rotation crews
MDRS
Greenhouse
Acknowledgements
Dr. David Allred
 Niki Farnsworth
 Tim O’Connor
 Doug Archer
 Jon and Richard Maginot
 Honors 343R – The Sweet Mars Class
 The Brigham Young University Physics
Department
