Australian Scientists Prepare LEAF Experiment to Study Plant Growth on the Moon for Artemis III Mission

Researchers hailing from various Australian universities, united under the ARC Centre of Excellence for Plants for Space (P4S), are currently undertaking crucial investigations. Their primary goal is to secure the viability of sustainable plant cultivation at future habitats on both the Moon and Mars. This P4S initiative involves significant international collaboration, counting NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) among its partners. The overarching aim is the development of highly efficient, zero-waste plant growth systems essential for supporting human life beyond Earth's protective sphere.

The ARC Centre of Excellence for Plants for Space (P4S), which is spearheaded by the University of Adelaide, represents a substantial, seven-year, interdisciplinary endeavor. Its scope spans systems engineering, plant biology, synthetic biology, food chemistry, psychology, legal frameworks, and education. A pivotal experiment, designated LEAF (Lunar Effects on Agricultural Flora), is slated for inclusion aboard NASA’s Artemis III mission. Current projections place this launch no earlier than mid-2027. This specific test, also referred to as LEAF Beta, will focus on observing the growth patterns of several key species, including Brassica rapa (specifically the red-green Wisconsin Fast Plants® varieties), Wolffia (duckweed), and Arabidopsis thaliana, all subjected to the lunar environment.

The core scientific focus will zero in on how partial gravity—equivalent to one-sixth of Earth's gravity—and cosmic radiation impact plant physiology. This promises to be the first comprehensive analysis of the whole-organism effects induced by the lunar setting. To safeguard the specimens, LEAF Beta will utilize a sealed, isolated atmospheric chamber designed to shield the plants from intense solar radiation, vacuum conditions, and high radiation levels. Researchers will meticulously track photosynthesis rates and stress responses throughout the duration. The study seeks to pinpoint precisely how these biophysical stressors influence photosynthetic productivity and nutritional quality, while also identifying the specific genomic traits that confer stress resilience in these space-bound crops.

Scientists involved, including experts from the University of Adelaide and La Trobe University, intend to gather extensive data on plant growth and morphology while the experiment is active. Following the mission, samples will be returned to Earth for in-depth genetic and metabolic analysis. This return phase is critically important, as LEAF will mark the first mission to bring lunar-grown plant matter back for detailed laboratory scrutiny. This entire project feeds into P4S’s broader mandate: creating the necessary technologies for long-duration human stays on the Moon and paving the way for subsequent missions to Mars. Furthermore, the knowledge gained is expected to bolster food production sustainability right here on Earth.

Professor Matthew Gilliham, Director of P4S and a faculty member at the University of Adelaide, emphasizes that the breakthroughs achieved by P4S will yield significant improvements applicable to terrestrial agriculture, such as developing crops better equipped to handle drought and soil salinization. The P4S consortium is a robust network comprising 38 organizations, including major players like NASA, the Australian Space Agency (ASA), and DLR. The LEAF project itself is being managed by Space Lab Technologies, a company situated in Boulder, Colorado. The scientific instrument is scheduled for deployment near the Moon's south pole, aligning perfectly with NASA’s strategic plans to return astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time in the 21st century.