China’s recent return of lunar soil samples and the announcement of what some contain has created an outbreak of very fanciful thinking related to the growing of plants on the Moon.
I can’t thank you enough for posting this news- this could be HUGE! As a longtime sci-fi reader this was quite presciently described by Robert A. Heinlein in his book “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress”. The colonists (“Loonies”) were actively ice mining to grow crops that were shipped back to Earth in containers launched by a magnetic slingshot. Many were born there but their parents were convicts that received one-way transport (once acclimated to 1/6 gravity return was ‘off the table’) . Anyway, the protagonist, a digital fixit guy gets befriended by the Moon’s computer network- which had gained enough nodes to become sentient. Eventually they and a few confidants hatch a plan to declare independence with the ability to sling those cannisters at land-based targets. Their flag bore the motto “TANSTAAFL” (There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch). One of his better efforts, imho. And to think that I might live long enough to see lunar gardening come to be- wow, just wow!
One problem that's been looked at on ISS crew is calcium/bone loss due to weightlessness over long periods, Although I don't have any data on that, it was one of our concerns during my 1990s research.
How many science fiction stories have I read about lunar or Martian colonies, or transgenerational spaceships living off hydroponic crops in closed habitats? Technology was rarely defined, but it was clearly vital and often led to a host of dramatic plot developments...
I recall a science fiction story, probably a novella, about the world’s first lunar permanent lunar laboratory that, like the I SS, had to frequently be supplied from earth and scientists rotated. Then a world war began and no nation could send relief. To survive, the scientists had to solve numerous problems like producing enough air, food and water. But after a year, and seemingly solving all these issues, team members began to waste away and die. The solution was the discovery of a previously unknown essential vitamin that lunar-grown plants did not synthesize. With time running out, a way to chemically synthesize the missing vitamin had to be invented. The lab successfully survives until the war ends. Can’t remember title or author. Probably from ‘60s or early ‘70s.
Great plot line. The need to grow amaranth is one of the top items as it produces all the required amino acids vital for our survival. And that's another point with replicators--will they actually replicate all facets of what's being replicated.
New Jersey is still known as the Garden State. I have some small garden plots that allow me to grow a few foods, garlic especially given its expense at grocers as opposed to its ease of cultivation. Oh, and things do grow in the night!
The ‘spinning wheel’ was popularized by Clarke and Kubrick in “2001 A Space Odyssey” (complete with the Blue Danube Waltz). A crying shame that 2001 is now remembered for the 911 Cabal….
Thank you Karl, very interesting writing.I must confess that the first thing I thought is that this has proven that the US has never been on the moon, otherwise they would not have found any traces of water?
Well, China went to the pole where such rock would be more likely than at the well baked surface the US landed on. There're other minerals present in the Apollo moon rocks that make them lunar. The USA's big problem today is in the other article I published--it can't today duplicate the Apollo effort because it lacks the engineers, technicians and scientists. The issues with the marooned Starliner at the ISS testify to that huge debacle. And there're many others.
Cool. To activate planet for plants Chinese biologists should work with (now underground) Daoist shamanic types who should invite Kogi masters from Colombia.
But first they should send some rats up there to see if they can survive the radiation belts.
I can’t thank you enough for posting this news- this could be HUGE! As a longtime sci-fi reader this was quite presciently described by Robert A. Heinlein in his book “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress”. The colonists (“Loonies”) were actively ice mining to grow crops that were shipped back to Earth in containers launched by a magnetic slingshot. Many were born there but their parents were convicts that received one-way transport (once acclimated to 1/6 gravity return was ‘off the table’) . Anyway, the protagonist, a digital fixit guy gets befriended by the Moon’s computer network- which had gained enough nodes to become sentient. Eventually they and a few confidants hatch a plan to declare independence with the ability to sling those cannisters at land-based targets. Their flag bore the motto “TANSTAAFL” (There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch). One of his better efforts, imho. And to think that I might live long enough to see lunar gardening come to be- wow, just wow!
One problem that's been looked at on ISS crew is calcium/bone loss due to weightlessness over long periods, Although I don't have any data on that, it was one of our concerns during my 1990s research.
Talking about planting crops on the moon is probably preferable to thinking about putting lasers there to take me out.
How many science fiction stories have I read about lunar or Martian colonies, or transgenerational spaceships living off hydroponic crops in closed habitats? Technology was rarely defined, but it was clearly vital and often led to a host of dramatic plot developments...
Not so fancifully, we're getting there...
Hydroponics in zero-G seem unwieldy to me, but I've not studied what's been done on the ISS about that.
I recall a science fiction story, probably a novella, about the world’s first lunar permanent lunar laboratory that, like the I SS, had to frequently be supplied from earth and scientists rotated. Then a world war began and no nation could send relief. To survive, the scientists had to solve numerous problems like producing enough air, food and water. But after a year, and seemingly solving all these issues, team members began to waste away and die. The solution was the discovery of a previously unknown essential vitamin that lunar-grown plants did not synthesize. With time running out, a way to chemically synthesize the missing vitamin had to be invented. The lab successfully survives until the war ends. Can’t remember title or author. Probably from ‘60s or early ‘70s.
Great plot line. The need to grow amaranth is one of the top items as it produces all the required amino acids vital for our survival. And that's another point with replicators--will they actually replicate all facets of what's being replicated.
Thanks. I sort of knew about amaranth, but I know nothing about advances towards replicators.
3-D printers are the initial step on the way to such devices.
Yeah, I can see that. But there is a lo-o-ng way to go!
New Jersey used to have truck gardens, if I remember.
In times gone by, city dwellers would be able to garden in small plots set side in the city.
Both concepts were viable with the associated costs of transportation. I am not staying up nights.
New Jersey is still known as the Garden State. I have some small garden plots that allow me to grow a few foods, garlic especially given its expense at grocers as opposed to its ease of cultivation. Oh, and things do grow in the night!
Sorry, I should have been more clear. Jesus Christ is expected to return some time but I am not staying up nights. Same for truck gardens on the moon.
I am going for Thai Basil after my Colorado trip next week. In pots, most likely.
Yes, fresh kitchen herbs are a must and cost a fortune at grocers.
The ‘spinning wheel’ was popularized by Clarke and Kubrick in “2001 A Space Odyssey” (complete with the Blue Danube Waltz). A crying shame that 2001 is now remembered for the 911 Cabal….
Oops! Meant to respond to Karl’s reply above 🙄
Thank you Karl, very interesting writing.I must confess that the first thing I thought is that this has proven that the US has never been on the moon, otherwise they would not have found any traces of water?
Well, China went to the pole where such rock would be more likely than at the well baked surface the US landed on. There're other minerals present in the Apollo moon rocks that make them lunar. The USA's big problem today is in the other article I published--it can't today duplicate the Apollo effort because it lacks the engineers, technicians and scientists. The issues with the marooned Starliner at the ISS testify to that huge debacle. And there're many others.
Cool. To activate planet for plants Chinese biologists should work with (now underground) Daoist shamanic types who should invite Kogi masters from Colombia.
But first they should send some rats up there to see if they can survive the radiation belts.
Why not send some DC politicos and their media to report on the effects--they're rats too, yes?
Please keep the moon clean:)