NASA-funded research at Louisiana Tech aims to revolutionize farming on the moon

NASA-funded research at Louisiana Tech aims to revolutionize farming on the moon

Sep 9, 2024| Engineering and Science, Faculty/Staff, Research, Students

Dr. Joan Lynam's Biomass Lab in Louisiana Tech University's College of Engineering and Science has developed a method for growing healthy, vibrant crops without the weight of soil, meaning plans to send crops to the moon within the next decade are more realistic than ever.

The team-Lynam (chemical engineering program chair and associate professor), Dr. Muhammad Aamir Iqbal (Fulbright postdoctoral fellow), and Mohammad Tarikuzzaman (PhD student in micro and nanoscale systems engineering)-has devised a method to recycle urine into water and use the waste byproducts as plant fertilizer, creating soilless plants. Their goal is to create an easy, sustainable source of water and growth on the moon's surface with implementation potential in the areas of lunar and deep-space farming.

This project is funded by NASA, specifically NASA LaSPACE, the Louisiana branch of the agency. By partnering with and providing funding to Louisiana Tech, the agency hopes to accelerate and elevate the research required for human beings to not only survive in space but live there.

The technology and research for the concept are already widespread. The practice involves providing plant nutrients (nitrogen, potassium, carbon, etc.) in a purely water-based environment, akin to placing a rose in a vase full of water. In this experiment's case, the water contains enough nutrients for the plants to live and grow.

What gives this research an edge over other soilless-based research is its sustainability. In space, there are no clear or easy supply lines, so using everything for as long as it can be used is key to the astronauts' survival. Lynam's team's research has demonstrated they can recycle urine back into water while converting the salt-rich waste, known as urea, into fertilizer for the soilless plants. If done correctly, Lynam and her team theorize that this could be a way for astronauts to recycle drinking water and sustainably and indefinitely create fertilizer for plants in space.

This experiment's long-term objective is to help astronauts survive in lunar environments.

"If all goes well, these techniques could be put in space in approximately six years," Lynam said.

This quick timeline has excited her team, with all participants feeling proud that their work could help future generations live in space.

"Turning waste into usable and sustainable products will make the world greener and cleaner," Tarikuzzaman said. "It's a rewarding project with incredibly far-reaching impacts; we hope to make a difference for the planet and beyond."