Based on "The Martian"

Chinese scientists will try to grow potatoes on the moon

Anna Stavina, XX2 century, based on the materials of the South China Morning Post: China plans to grow potatoes in space ... like Matt Damon did in The Martian

Chinese space explorers plan to achieve in real life what the main character of Andy Weir's book "The Martian" (The Martian) managed to do: grow potatoes on another planet.

However, the field for testing (at least for now) will not be Mars, but the Moon closer to us. Also, as part of the new program, the Chinese will try to establish the cultivation of silkworms on the Moon. This is reported by the publication Chongqing Morning Post.

A three-kilogram container with a mini-ecosystem will be delivered to the Moon in 2018, for this purpose it is planned to use the Chang'e-4 automatic interplanetary station for studying the Moon and outer space. The mini-ecosystem itself was developed under the guidance of scientists from Chongqing University.

"In a container, we will send potatoes, rhesus seeds and silkworm eggs to the moon. Caterpillars will come out of the eggs, which will be able to produce carbon dioxide, while potatoes and seeds (so in the text – VM) they will release oxygen during photosynthesis. Together they will be able to create a simple lunar ecosystem," says Zhang Yuanxun, chief designer of the container.

The most difficult task, according to the expert, will be maintaining the right temperature and energy supply of the artificial ecosystem. For the development of plants and caterpillars, it is necessary that the temperature ranges from 1 to 30 degrees Celsius, while during the day on the Moon the thermometer reaches +120, and at night – up to -170. To protect the ecosystem, Chinese scientists have designed a container with thermal insulation and light guides. The energy of the system will be provided by specially designed batteries for this purpose.

Project manager Xie Gengxin reports that the main mission of scientists is to prepare for future flights to the Moon and, possibly, for the colonization of the satellite.

"We will broadcast the process of growth and development of plants and insects live to the whole world," Genxin adds.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  16.06.2017