Space Grant Consortium - University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Astronaut Advanced Life Support:
Engineering Extra Terrestrial Extremophile Plants
Submitted By: Dan Hawk, PI 1 ; Dr Cindi Schmitt, PI 2 ; and Dr Gertrud Konings-Dudin, PI 3
.
Abstract Phase 2: This paper directly supports NASAs Exploration Systems Mission
Directorate (ESMD) of returning to the moon 4
. Going to the moon is not a redundant
undertaking; we are here to support bigger lunar missions and longer stays. In this phase we
continue to amend JSC-1A lunar regolith simulant with pyrogenic carbon
(Cpyr); the main ingredient of sustainable anthropogenic Amazon Black Earth (ABE) soil.
In addition to growing food in a lunar habitat demonstration, we expand research to include
engineering the lunar habitat by creating an extremophile plant that can survive on the lunar
surface known as “Star”. Herein we report that our research directly supports an unmanned lunar
Lander whereby Star is to be placed inside a growth module on the surface of the moon, and
having a >90% chance of surviving a minimum of one lunar cycle (~28 earth days). Star will be
of great scientific potential yet on earth, extremophile research allows us to explore reintroducing
ABE for high-altitude sustainability agriculture, in response to global climate change.
Summary of Contents:
1. Star.
a. Introduction: Star Mission to the Moon
b. KAG, Divide, Colorado Experiments
c. EPCC, El Paso, Texas Experiments
d. CMN, Green Bay, Wisconsin Experiments
2. MAX-X.
3. Future Experiments.
4. Plant Module (Concept Drawings).
Star Mission to the Moon. The addition of ABE and liquid fertilizer amended soils can produce
a yield of 880% 5 6 more than the baseline. ABE increases plant stress hormones which allow the
plant to survive under very harsh conditions. In addition ABE is independent of climate and soil
type
7 8
allowing us to research ABE technology for use on an extra-terrestrial body. Extra-
terrestrial research simulations guide us in developing extremophile plants for advanced
astronaut life support (food production), engineering extra-terrestrial atmospheres, and highaltitude
plant growth experiments.
1 College of Menominee Nation.
2 Kalagesi AniNoquisi Gatusi.
3 El Paso Community College.
4 http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/home/index.html.
5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1eYn76bO4E.
6 Steiner, C., (Dissertation) Slash & Char: As Alternative To Slash & Burn. Cuvillier Verlag Götingen.
7 Lehmann, J., (2003). Amazonian Dark Earths: Origin, Properties, Management. Netherlands:Kluwer Academic
Publishers.
8 Lunar regolith is not considered soil and by definition cannot become Amazon Black Earth (ABE).
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