China succeeds in growing first Moon plant

PLANTS have sprouted on the Moon for the first time, paving the way for lunar bases that can produce their own food and air.

Images of the first tiny shoots of cotton inside a mini biosphere were released by scientists at Chongqing University running the experiment on board the Chang’e-4 lunar lander.

The Chinese craft became the first to make a soft landing on the far side of the Moon earlier this month.

Lunar plants would have to contend with the Moon’s low gravity – about 17 per cent of that on Earth – and temperatures ranging from below -173C (-279F) to higher than 100C (212F).

“Learning about these plants’ growth in a low-gravity environment would allow us to lay the foundation for our future establishment of [a] space base,” said Xie Gengxin, who led the experiment’s design.

The “mini lunar biosphere” experiment is a 7in (18cm) metal bucket that holds air, water, soil and a special nutrient solution. A small tube directs natural sunlight into the tin to help the plants grow.

Potato seeds and arabidopsis – a small flowering plant from the mustard family – were also planted, but have not been seen so far, the university said.

The biosphere also contains silkworms in cocoons that, scientists hope, will hatch once the plants start producing enough oxygen.