By 
September 20th, 2023
Image credit: AWI/ Michael Trautmann
An experimental greenhouse in Antarctica is sprouting ideas in the development of techniques to train prospective crews headed for the Moon.
More than one ton of vegetables, salad ingredients and herbs have been harvested at the EDEN ISS Antarctic greenhouse.
According to the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR), the EDEN ISS has spent five years on the seventh continent.
The facility is being transformed into EDEN LUNA as part of a planned conversion. Astronauts will be able to train in the cultivation of vegetables, salad ingredients and herbs, as well as in the technology and procedures – all integrated into the LUNA test and training facility planned jointly by DLR and the European Space Agency (ESA).
Image credit: DLR
Fresh vegetables
“Over the past few years, the EDEN ISS greenhouse has demonstrated in Antarctica how plant cultivation on the Moon and Mars might look and function using artificial light,” says Anke Pagels-Kerp, DLR Divisional Board Member for Space. “But the project also showed how fresh vegetables can be supplied to climatically challenging regions of our planet while using resources efficiently.”
Those fresh vegetables were supplied to the crews of Neumayer Station III that is operated by the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) just 400 meters from the German Antarctic station Neumayer III.
Image credit: DLR
Since the beginning of 2018, the EDEN ISS greenhouse operated by DLR has been located in Antarctica, just 13,000 feet (400 meters) from the Neumayer III station.
“The greenhouse has brought color into the lives of our overwintering teams, as well as meals enriched by fresh vegetables and herbs. The research shows that plant life is good for people and innovations for growing vegetables in extreme habitats are relevant for the future. Antarctica is an ideal test area for this,” said Antje Boetius, Director of the AWI.
Overhaul
The greenhouse is now being overhauled at the DLR site in Bremen, Germany, outfitted with new technology in preparation for training of future lunar astronauts.
In the mid-2020s, the greenhouse is to be integrated into the newly constructed LUNA hall at DLR’s Cologne site.
NASA guest scientist Jess Bunchek is investigating how astronauts on future Moon and Mars missions could grow vegetables and herbs using as little time and energy as possible.
Image credit: Linda Ort, DLR/NASA/AWI
“The EDEN LUNA greenhouse will become even more digital, networked and resource-saving with the conversion,” explains Daniel Schubert from the DLR Institute of Space Systems in a DLR statement.
In the future, Schubert adds, a robotic arm in the greenhouse will support and relieve the work of the astronauts undergoing training. Additional cameras and an AI-controlled greenhouse management system will optimize the monitoring of the plants and their care.
Also, the processing of urine as a nutrient solution will be integrated into the greenhouse cycle. The technology for processing urine for plant cultivation will be provided by the DLR Institute of Aerospace Medicine.
Moon base structures will include housing green thumb expeditionary crews.
Credit: LIQUIFER Systems Group 2018/René Waclavicek
Training facility
Astronauts that will be travelling to the Moon are to be trained in the LUNA test and training facility at the DLR site in Cologne.
Construction and commissioning are planned for the middle of this decade. The converted EDEN LUNA greenhouse will be integrated into this research facility.
LUNA is being built on DLR’s Cologne campus in close proximity to DLR’s Institute of Aerospace Medicine and ESA’s European Astronaut Center.
For an informative video on this work, go to:
Posted in Space News
