Scientists Advance Space Agriculture for Future Moon and Mars Missions

By Joey Garcia

Space isn't known for rich soil or ideal agricultural conditions anywhere in the solar system. Yet amid extreme temperatures and vast distances, multidisciplinary teams at USF's Aerospace: Science, Technology, Research and Applications Center (ASTRA) are collaborating on sustainable space agriculture projects with potential applications back on Earth.

Much of that work is happening without ever leaving the ground. Researchers across campus are simulating space environments in labs, testing how plants, microbes and biological systems respond to the same stresses they would face on the moon and Mars.

"We're building multidisciplinary teams of engineers, plant scientists and health researchers who are contributing to space-related projects and their applications on Earth. It's creating an opportunity for USF to establish itself as a leader in this field," said Stephanie Carey, associate professor and principal investigator for USF's ASTRA Center.

Teaming up for mangrove space botany

A look inside the lab of associate professor Christina Richards reveals wild plants adapted to challenging environments, particularly coastal species such as the Spartina alterniflora marsh grass and red mangroves. While the leap from coastal ecosystems to space may seem unlikely, Richards quickly saw the connection when her graduate student, Jessica Bains, expressed interest in space botany.