A space breakthrough has been achieved after researchers say tea plants could thrive in lunar conditions.
Scientists from the University of Kent used soil designed to replicate that found on the Moon and on Mars, with young tea plants being observed over the course of several weeks.
The results showed the plants placed in the Moon-like soil grew strongly and established roots at a rate similar to those in Earth soil.
However, the plants in the Martian equivalent dirt failed to survive.
Scientists from the University of Kent used soil designed to replicate that found on the Moon and on Mars
|UNIVERSITY OF KENT
University of Kent plant biology lecturer Dr Sara Lopez-Gomollo said: “The results of this project are very encouraging, as they demonstrate that tea can be grown in lunar soil.
“Our next step is to better understand the physiology of the plant under these conditions, so we can improve growth and ideally translate these findings to other crops.
“This is particularly exciting as we move beyond simply sending astronauts to the Moon and begin to think seriously about making it habitable, paving the way for long-duration space missions.”
Researchers initially believed nothing would be able to grow in the harsh lunar environment.
Researchers initially believed nothing would be able to grow in the harsh lunar environment
|GETTY
However, this was blown wide open in 2022 after a University of Florida team successfully grew cress plants in lunar soil retrieved from the Apollo missions.
Examinations revealed that the plants were able to alter their biology to adapt to the intense conditions.
The cress plants activated inactive genes typically used to help them cope with soils rich in metal or salt.
The findings have given hope to scientists that astronauts embarking on lengthy missions may be able to sustain themselves on space-grown crops instead of hauling supplies with them.
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The findings have given hope to scientists that astronauts embarking on length missions may be able to sustain themselves
|UNIVERSITY OF KENT
The university's School of Physical Sciences head Professor Nigel Mason said: “We’re moving into a new age of space, where we think about settling in space and building bases on the Moon or Mars.
“One of the first things you want to know is, ‘What will people eat?’.
"These experiments reveal that terrestrial plants such as tea may be cultivated in lunar soils within lunar greenhouses allowing inhabitants of such bases some degree of autonomy and access to fresh food.
“We are at the very earliest stages of research into space agriculture but it is reassuring that we may be able to provide access to the great British tradition of a tea break.”
The study also offers lessons for Earth, highlighting how plants adjust to tough conditions and nutrient-poor soils, which may be crucial if crops across the planet face catastrophe in the future.
Dr Lopez-Gomollo noted: “We hope that the knowledge gained from studying plant survival in extreme extraterrestrial environments will also be applied to improving crop resilience here on Earth.”
During the Apollo missions, Nasa supplied astronauts with around 2,800 calories worth of food per day.
Not including packaging, this translated for around 1.3kg of actual food per crew member every single day.