First green leaf on moon dies as temperatures plummet
The appearance of a single green leaf hinted at a future in which astronauts would grow their own food in space, potentially setting up residence at outposts on the moon or other planets. Now, barely after it had sprouted, the cotton plant onboard China’s lunar rover has died.
The plant relied on sunlight at the moon’s surface, but as night arrived at the lunar far side and temperatures plunged as low as -170C, its short life came to an end.
Prof Xie Gengxin of Chongqing University, who led the design of the experiment, said its short lifespan had been anticipated. “Life in the canister would not survive the lunar night,” Xie said.
(Score: 3, Informative) by SomeGuy on Friday January 18 2019, @04:55PM
People seem to be very hung up on the short duration and small scope of this experiment.
That is how science works sometimes.
The goal was certainly to learn something very specific (TFA does not say what) that would only occur in the short time frame. Whatever was learned may not even be directly linked to "growing food on the moon" but could have some other potential application. For all we know, the experiment may not even have much to do with growing plants, but rather learning something specific about solar radiation or low gravity.
Further, the precise nature, conditions, and devices required for any similar future experiments may hinge largely on some minor detail result of this experiment. Sometimes you have to complete small step A before you can make a meaningful larger step B.