Growing food on Mars

[Ground Control]

How will we be able to grow anything on Mars? As far as we know there are no organisms on the planet, there are no symbiotic relationships occurring, the atmosphere is toxic and therefore the surface will not support growing crops in the way we understand it on Earth.

Until we understand more about Mars’ composition, and discover a way to utilise it, growing crops on Mars will be in a very controlled environment.

Plants require air, water, solar light and nutrients to survive. The situation is as follows:

• There is no “air” on Mars.
• Water is available on Mars but it must be harvested.
• Solar light is available on Mars however it is less than on Earth.
• There is no evidence of life-sustaining nutrients in Mars’ surface matter.

Using a closed system that incorporates human waste for nutrient is the most likely course of action, but can the cycle work? Is it self-sustaining? Is the available water and light sufficient to grow enough crops for consumption?

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