Artist’s concept of Artemis astronaut deploying equipment on the moon
NASA
NASA has selected the first scientific experiment that astronauts will bring to the moon as part of the Artemis III mission. The mission, currently planned for 2026, will be the first time humans have walked on the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.
The first of the three scientific instruments is called Lunar Effects on Agricultural Flora (LEAF). In this experiment, astronauts will grow plants on the moon’s surface and observe the plants’ ability to photosynthesize and grow, as well as how they respond to the stress of low gravity and cosmic radiation.
This is not the first time plants have been grown in space. Astronauts have been growing vegetables on the International Space Station for a decade, and in 2019 China’s Chang’e 4 mission germinated seeds on the moon. Those seeds didn’t last long. However, it is long, and if all goes well, Leaf will provide the first glimpse of the complete growth cycle of plants on the moon.
The second experiment is the Lunar Environmental Monitoring Station (LEMS). This is a small seismometer designed to measure lunar earthquakes near the moon’s south pole. Characterizing how the ground moves during these earthquakes helps researchers understand the subsurface structure of the region.
The final instrument, called the Lunar Dielectric Analyzer (LDA), measures the conductivity of the soil. Because ice bound to dust particles greatly increases the soil’s ability to conduct electricity, LDA can help track frost accumulation and measure changes in the soil as the sun rises and sets on the moon.
“These three deployed instruments were selected to begin scientific research from the Moon to address critical science goals on Mars,” said NASA’s Pam Melroy. statement. The ultimate goal of the Artemis mission is to lay the groundwork for a long-term human stay on the Moon, which in turn will teach us how to prepare for manned flights to Mars.
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