Space Farming is one of the best,
and perhaps the most preferable solution for food-consumption constraints in
outer space, and on lifeless off-Earth celestial objects. But as I mentioned in
my previous article, there are several problems associated with it that we need
to resolve.Down here on Earth, gravity is an important factor responsible for
plant-growth. Gravity acts as a harbinger for plants to start various aspects
of their life-cycles, such as root and stem orientation. Aboard spaceships,
their life cycles are disturbed, due to microgravity, and they might not grow
properly.
Common sense dictates that plants unquestionably need
sunlight to grow. But the amount of sunlight entering a space-capsule orbiting
the Earth is insufficient to advocate plant-growth. So, artificial lighting
needs to be provided to these plants to keep them from wearing out. The choice
of lighting also determines how they grow. Due to limited resources available
in outer space, it is indispensable to use energy-efficient equipment on-board
to provide adequate artificial lighting that isn't lacklustre, which in turn is
quite challenging.
The conditions under which plants are cultivated in
outer space are not the same as those available on Earth. The prospect of any
contaminants or dangerous organisms from outer space interfering with the
productivity and growth of plants is minuscule, but isn't completely
inconsequential. The likeliness of us being aware of such interference without
consuming their fruits is very low, making them inedible. Also, if astronauts
happened to bring back these genetically-altered plants, they would pose a
serious threat to life down here on Earth.
The meagre availability of space inside a space-capsule is a serious
predicament for plant-growth. Due to such confined quarters, plants need to be
placed away from one another, so that the growth of one does not affect
another's, which in turn forces us to dwindle the number of plants that need to
grown.
Shreyas Dahale
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