Potatoes will be planted on the Moon, and China will livestream it to the world

The film "The Martian" tells the story of humans landing on Mars, where the protagonist tries to grow potatoes in order to survive. Growing plants on an alien planet is one of the important prerequisites for human alien migration, so in order to survive long-term on an alien planet in the future, it is necessary to cultivate plants suitable for growing on alien planets!

In the fourth phase of China's lunar exploration program, the most important spacecraft, the Chang'e 4 lunar probe, also appeared before the public. The main task of Chang'e 4 is to land on the lunar surface and carry out various experiments and detection work. In addition to various scientific instruments, an important task of this landing is to also plant potatoes on the Moon!

One of the remarkable devices carried aboard Chang'e 4 is the "lunar surface mini ecosystem." The "lunar surface mini ecosystem" is a "canister" carefully built by scientists from special aluminum alloy materials. Although the "canister" is not large, inside it will be placed potato seeds, Arabidopsis seeds, silkworm eggs, soil, water, air, as well as scientific research equipment such as a camera and an information transmission system.

Scientists will simulate the Earth's environment in this small space, thereby carrying out animal and plant cultivation experiments under the conditions of the Moon's surface vacuum, microgravity, and extreme temperature differences! Inside, the temperature will be controlled through the device, and light from the lunar surface will be introduced. Plants produce carbohydrates and oxygen through photosynthesis, while the growth process of the silkworms produces carbon dioxide and feces and other nutrients needed by the plants, forming a small ecosystem.

This experiment will last 100 days, which is why scientists chose potatoes and Arabidopsis. These two plants will take root and sprout within 100 days, and bloom the first flower on the lunar surface. At that time, this biological experiment will be livestreamed to the world through a small camera.

This experiment is located on the Moon, 380,000 km from Earth. At the same time, potatoes will even produce food on the Moon, which is of great significance for humanity's future production in outer space.