New Mars Forums

I support Spirulina culture as algal food in space. I tasted Spirulina cookies at my university.

Hello Tahanson, I don't know any person in my place who has an interest in either Space Farming, Astrobotany or Astroagronomy.

What do you mean I am an approved member? By the way, I don't know if I am qualified to join Mars University to study Space Farming. My M.Sc. degree has not yet finished.

First, you can isolate but not feasible to do that in space. Second, chloroplast can't survive without the nucleus. Metabolic activity in the chloroplast happens because of the enzymatic reaction. Some enzymes in the chloroplast, the genetic information came from the nucleus. Third, nucleus and chloroplast have an interaction by giving a molecular signal in order to maintain the cellular activity inside the cell. If you prefer to fix more CO2, I recommend the use of microalgae as a source of O2 and food. To screen a candidate microalgae, research about their ecophysiology or high amount of carbonic anhydrase of different microalga species. Carbonic anhydrase is an enzyme which fixed more CO2.

I can't believe that the previous post was 2005 and I replied this 2018. #LOL

I never said that gamma rays are non-infectious. What I mean was space radiation is detrimental to settler's health. If you will collect Martian regolith and bring it inside the colony for planting, the regolith will emit a radiation. We should minimize the health risk of the settlers because of radiation. Cosmic rays and gamma rays have a high energy which can damage the DNA. Once the DNA was damaged in the particular tissue, the normal tissue will turn into cancerous tissue. There is no treatment for cancer in Mars. We should avoid the health risk for the future Martian settlers.

It is a challenge for the engineers to make a suit which protects the settlers in space radiation like cosmic rays.

Most horticulturists experience health risks because of the exposure of chemicals like synthetic phytohormones or growth retardants.

For clarification

"Soil vs. Regolith"

According to the textbook of Brady entitled "The Nature and Properties of Soils" (Holy Bible of Soil Science )

Regolith defines as unconsolidated material overlying rocks.

Soil defines as the upper and biochemically weathered portion of the regolith.

By the way, one of my worries is the Martian regolith they have a radiation like Gamma rays. Utilizing collected Martian regolith for planting could affect the growth of the plant and dangerous to settlers also, which could increase the health risk.

If we talk hydroponics, lots of mineral salts supply must be transported in Mars and the Martian settlers will be the one to prepare a nutrient solution like "modified Hoagland's solution".

Currently, I am following the research project from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). They established a research project entitled "The C4 Project". A genetic engineering where the carbon dioxide concentrating mechanism (CCM) of rice is C3 will be converted in C4 CCM just like corn.

This project will help to make a new variety of rice that will be planted in drought and high-temperature condition.

Yeah, it couldn't be, but it would reduce the production of food. Tackling this kind of issue would help to know what are the possible way to prevent this kind of issue in the future.