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From Earth to Mars, Observations in Biological and Physical Sciences
April 4, 2024 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Join us for this unique seminar and learn about the advances in agriculture, biology, and the physical sciences that will allow us to visit Mars… and maybe start living there!
Guest Speakers
Clays and natural resources for human missions on Mars
Dr. Aditi Pandey, NASA Lunar and Planetary Institute
1:00-1:20
Sustaining long-term human explorations of Mars will require in situ utilization of local resources to replenish life support essentials. Fortunately, the elements needed to develop habitats, grow plants, obtain water, and supply oxygen have been identified over years of orbital satellite and ground rover missions on Mars. The regolith and bedrock materials are some of the most abundant resources and are a significant source of minerals with versatile applications, such as clays. Based on our current understanding of the types and distribution of clay minerals on Mars, we discuss their potential applications in sustaining agriculture, infrastructure, and material development to sustain future Mars missions. We evaluate the role of clay minerals in mitigating life cycle costs, reducing the amount of Earth consumables, and supporting the mission’s scientific objectives while taking caution about the difference in type, abundance, and composition of clays on Mars in addition to environmental conditions, such as atmospheric composition, pressure, and average temperature.
The Chemistry and Mineralogy of Mars Soils
Dr. Brad Sutter, NASA ARES TEAM
1:20-1:40
Eight landed missions have demonstrated that Martian soils consist of basaltic mineralogy, iron (hydr)oxides, amorphous material, sulfate, chloride, (per)chlorate, nitrate, carbonate, and possible organic C. Solution chemical analyses reveal soils that are oxidized, saline, with a pH of 7.7. Three to 10 cm-thick duricrust horizons consistent with atmospheric water vapor interactions with soil salts suggest limited pedogenesis has occurred at two landing sites. There is wealth of Mars soil data that can inform on martian aqueous, volcanic, and atmospheric processes as well as serve as a potential resource for future human missions to Mars.
In-situ Resource Utilization for Space Agriculture
Dr. Youjun Deng, TAMU Soil & Crop Science
1:40-2:00
Establishing a Lunar base and successful colonization of Mars will require secure food production that utilizes any available in-situ resources and optimizes environment conditions to minimize payload costs. This presentation will highlight current research activities on the evaluation and optimization of Lunar and Martian regolith resources to support long-term sustainable food production on the Moon and Mars. Findings on both beneficial and possible adverse minerals and elements in the regolith will be presented. Mining and processing strategies for water, oxygen, and nutrient generations using the in-situ resources will be discussed. Educational and financial support needs will be addressed as well.
Terraforming Martian Soils from Aeroponic Culture and Composting
Harrison Coker, TAMU Soil & Crop Sciences
2:00-2:20
Exoplanetary soils of low fertility will require augmentation and composting of organic matter from biowastes to support sustainable cropping operations and new ecosystems. Aeroponic biowaste streams contain both inorganic nutrients and root system efflux from plants and may grant the opportunity for an accelerated improvement of extraterrestrial soil health. To test this hypothesis, a Martian simulate soil and mineral sand (control) were used as an in-line filter for an aeroponic system cultivating wheat. The growth performance of plants in aeroponics was not affected by the inclusion of the Martian simulate or sand, as compared to an unfiltered treatment (positive control). After being inundated with inorganic nutrients and root system efflux for xx days, the plant biomass was composted into the Martian simulate and sand. Martian simulate and sand physiochemical properties were quantified, including total C and N, cation exchange capacity (CEC), pH, total and extractable plant nutrients, and P speciation analyzed using synchrotron X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES). To test if Martian simulate and sand were improved by the augmentation and composting process, wheat was grown in the modified and unmodified soils. Plants demonstrated vastly improved performance in modified soils, with unmodified Martian simulate being unable to support plant growth. A proposed process for the recycling of aeroponic waste streams is described, with evidence of successfully boosting the fertility of a Martian simulate using biowastes to support crop growth.
Growing beyond Earth: Telomere tales of Arabidopsis thaliana in lunar regolith simulant and on the International Space Station
Dr. Borja Barcenilla, BCBP
2:20-2:40
NASA envisions sustainable colonies on the moon and on Mars by 2050, and plants will play pivotal roles in these endeavors. Here we inves9gate how the telomeres and telomerase of Arabidopsis thaliana are impacted by space flight and growth on extraterrestrial soil simulants. We report that telomere length is steady in plants grown on the International Space Station (ISS), although telomerase enzyme activity is strongly induced, increasing by up to 150-fold in roots. Ground-based studies affirmed telomerase activity is elevated in Arabidopsis by diverse environmental stressors, and this induction is independent of telomere length changes. There was a strong inverse correlation between genome oxidation and telomerase activity levels, suggesting plant telomerase may harbor a redox protective role that can help to facilitate survival in harsh environments. Recent studies show that A. thaliana can be successfully cultvated in lunar regolith, but arrests at a terminal vegetative state and activates multiple stress responses. We found that pre-washing the simulant with an antioxidant cocktail facilitated seed setting and viable second-generation plants, but plants grown in lunar regolith simulant displayed increased genome oxidation and reduced biomass compared to Earth soil cultivation. Moreover, growth in lunar regolith simulant resulted in progressive telomere shortening and reduced telomerase enzyme activity for a variety of different A. thaliana accessions and in a variety of different regolith simulants. These findings highlight both the promise and the challenges of ensuring genome integrity for successful plant growth in extraterrestrial environments.
Real-Time Monitoring of Plant Stress Hormones for Extra-terrestrial Agriculture
Chiranjibi Poudyal, TAMU Soil & Crop Sciences
2:40-3:00
Growing plants in microgravity on the International Space Station necessitates a specialized production system that carefully regulates lighting, temperature, and humidity. Careful consideration to the root zone must also be given as microgravity affects the way water moves and transport nutrients. Despite advancements, knowledge gaps exist regarding plant responses to in-situ resource utilization, response to altered gravity, and radiation tolerance mechanisms in a spaceflight-like environment. In this study, we aim to advance the fundamental understanding of the hormonal responses in plants in a spaceflight-like environment through in-situ sensor technology that collects real-time measurements of two plant phytohormones, salicylic acid and abscisic acid. For our model crop, we have chosen to work with black-eyed peas or cowpea (Vigna unguiculate), which have an ultra-short duration life cycle and edible leaves and/or grains. A lightweight coir pith will be used as growing media and will be compared to hydroponic production. Plants will be grown under ambient (~400ppm) and elevated (~700 ppm) CO 2 conditions and at two temperature regimes (33/22 ºC and 38/27 ºC). The photoperiod will be set as 16/8 hr (Light/Dark). A portable photosynthesis system (LI-6800, LI-COR Biosciences) will be utilized for assessing physiological processes such as photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll fluorescence, and transpiration in this study. We will also deploy an electrochemical-based hormone sensor specifically designed to measure salicylic and abscisic acids quantitatively in plant sap. This sensor functions by detecting proportional change in the impedance (electrical resistance) on its surface. Using a pre-build calibration curve, we can then estimate the unknown hormone concentration from the measured impedance value. With the study, we aim to advance our understanding of plant adaptation and hormonal regulation in spaceflight-like environments.