Farming on Mars: NASA ponders food supply for 2030s mission

Space.com via CBS ^ | May 15, 2013, 10:30 AM | Clara Moskowitz /

[BenLurkin]

The first humans to live on Mars might not identify as astronauts, but farmers. To establish a sustainable settlement on Earth's solar system neighbor, space travelers will have to learn how to grow food on Mars -- a job that could turn out to be one of the most vital, challenging and labor-intensive tasks at hand, experts say.

"One of the things that every gardener on the planet will know is producing food is hard -- it is a non-trivial thing," Penelope Boston, director of the Cave and Karst Studies program at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, said Tuesday at the Humans 2 Mars Summit at The George Washington University. "Up until several hundred years ago it occupied most of us for most of the time."

Early Mars colonists may have to revert to this mode of life to ensure their own survival, she suggested

[stuartcr]

Hey, just use a 3D printer...seems like they can make anything

[Mouton]

I would send them on farming expeditions to the Atacama Desert for six months, make them work in space suits and see how they do before we go forth with any further planning. I’ve got just the first two choices, that nut job who drove all the way from Houston to Florida, in diapers without stopping, to get her man back.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

This was figured out in science fiction long ago. Until you get established greenhouses underground, the fastest way to produce substantial and nutritious food is with microorganisms. You begin with them making the bulk of your nutritional needs, along with the dehydrated food you have brought with, and then you augment that with crops and finally animals.

Realistically speaking, this begins by sending nuclear powered tunneling robots, which burrow into a vertical cliff face and keep improving it until not only is there enough room for people, but a substantial amount of water and waste storage, and tunnels that will function as the home for a hydroponic garden.

[from occupied ga]

I would send them on farming expeditions to the Atacama Desert for six months

Antartica could be closer in temperature, but still not cold enough.

[jboot]

We could use huge amounts of money, R&D time and mission time growing potatoes in space for a multi-year Mars mission. OR we could dust off the plans for nuclear rocket engines that have been gathering dust since the 1960s and mount a 6-month mission with a heavier spacecraft and more and better science. For food we can just send along a crate or two of MREs.

But that makes too much sense, I'm sure. You get more "good government" points if you do space on a shoestring.

[from occupied ga]

This was figured out in science fiction long ago.

But this isn't a science fiction thread. Or is it? With NASA it's hard to tell at times.

Award for unintentional irony

Realistically speaking, this begins by sending nuclear powered tunneling robots, which burrow into a vertical cliff face and keep improving it until not only is there enough room for people, but a substantial amount of water and waste storage, and tunnels that will function as the home for a hydroponic garden.

I went to Walmart the other day to get some nuclear powered tunneling robots, but they didn't have any. I then tried Grainger, but they didn't have any either.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

I don’t know if anyone here has ever eaten “Quorn”.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quorn

The mycoprotein used to produce Quorn is extracted from the fungus Fusarium venenatum.

However, I think they are missing a bet, by trying to keep it as strictly vegetarian. That is, if you would *augment* a faux meat with *real* flavorings, it would taste a heck of a lot better. This could include putting in bullion or animal fats, that would seriously boost both its nutritional value and taste.

[from occupied ga]

...OR...

Or we could just not do it and let the taxpayers KEEP THEIR MONEY THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SPEND ON Pigs in Space

[ExCTCitizen]

Farming on Mars...I wonder if there’s an economic stymulus for it from Obama?? (Dear El Presidente, may I have 3.7 billion dollars and 200,000 acres of prime Mars land. Thank You.. I want to grow apples and grapes on Mars.)

[turdhopper]

maybe take some food stamps with them up there. or whatever democrats usually do

[from occupied ga]

maybe take some food stamps with them up there. or whatever democrats usually do

Nah, EBT cards so they can buy lap dances.

[Cyman]

Two ships needed.

One for astronauts.

One for Twinkies.

[CMB_polarization]

NASA doesn't have to worry about a thing. The Mars One folks will have agriculture and food production achieved by 2024.

http://mars-one.com/en/mission/mission-and-vision

[stuartcr]

Excellent idea

[I want the USA back]

Stupid idea. Humans are optimized for living on Earth. Living on another planet will have them dead.

[molson209]

They could send the First Lady she has a garden ,she even wrote a book ,I think

[Tijeras_Slim]

I don’t know if anyone here has ever eaten “Quorn”.

I hear they're sorta gamy.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Snow peas should be a good crop . . .

[winodog]

Why not the moon after that? I am sure there are good reasons nonetheless the moon seems more feasible