NASA is taking a surprising step into astrobiology with its latest experiment aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The ARTEMOSS mission aims to study the resilience of Antarctic moss in space conditions. Launched on November 4, this project focuses on how combined exposure to space radiation and microgravity affects plant physiological responses.
Before their journey, the moss samples were exposed to simulated cosmic rays and solar particles at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory in New York. They then traveled to Kennedy Space Center for launch. Onboard the ISS, researchers will monitor the growth of these moss samples over a week before freezing them in the ISS Glacier freezer.
Understanding how plants adapt to space conditions could shed light on future possibilities for cultivating life in deep space and pushing the boundaries of astrobiology. This experiment could ultimately pave the way for sustainable agriculture on future missions.
Source: https://www.scimag.news/news-en/27987/space-plants-the-brave-new-frontier