Chinese scientists will attempt to grow potatoes on the moon as part of a forthcoming lunar mission.
According to a report in the Chongqing Morning Post, the potatoes will be sealed inside a “mini ecosystem” as part the Chang'e-4 mission due to launch next year. They’ll be sharing a small cylinder on the surface of Earth’s only natural satellite with silkworm larvae as part of a series of experiments, Xie Gengxin of Chongqing University told the newspaper.
The goal is to see whether the insects and potatoes will survive on the lunar surface, and the end result will yield important insights about the viability of a future human colony, according to China Radio International.
Source: BBC