He is not the only researcher, either, working to expose plants to higher radiation levels than previously studied. Porterfield is one of the scientists working on the NASA leaf mission, a lunar plant growth experiment that will land in 2027 with Artemis III), and we have “little” impact on radiation exposure outside low-Earth orbit. Understanding how variability in radiation affects plants will be a “key focus” in the leaf task.
“For the past 30 years, we have been trapped in lower orbits and have not done a lot of basic research, we need to go to deep space, where you find radiation from the galaxy universe,” he said. “The variable sources of this radiation may have some unexpected reactions. Plants’ response to these radiation problems will be important for future agricultural systems on the moon.”
Once MayaSat-1 has returned, for the next two years Radišič and his team will work with the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia to breed generations of clones from the space seeds to study genetic changes and plant adaptations, including “alterations in cannabinoid profiles”—how much CBD, THC, and other compounds the plants go onto Develop. The second phase of their study will then involve simulating Martian soil conditions and growing plants in controlled low gravity environments on Earth.
Since the 1970s, the University of Palacký in Gebia, Olomouc and chemist Lumír Ondhanuš of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have been studying the cannabis plant. He believes that research consultants for the project believe that once the seeds return, there are “many possibilities” for scientific research.
In addition to potential genetic and epigenetic changes, the Mars Growth Team will also look for structural and physiological changes, such as leaf size, chlorophyll content, root structure, photosynthetic rate and water use. They will examine what happens after plants are exposed to stressors like diseases and analyze the activity of enzyme hormones and secondary metabolites, which may lead to the identification of new compounds.
“These results are important for the future regardless of whether or not, so we know how to grow cannabis in space environments.”
Still, we can only actually grow cannabis or any plant on Mars. In soil, microgravity, extreme temperatures, lack of nutrients and toxins are not favorable conditions for cultivation.
“We will have to adapt to the environment on Mars and slowly make our plants survive,” said Genoplant CEO Petra Knaus. “At present, we believe this will only be possible.” [to grow plants] In a closed system container, adapt to conditions. “For future missions, Genoplant is developing a new space capsule with this vein, which is scheduled to re-enter the test for the first time in 2027, which will allow researchers to plant seeds in space and monitor them for several years.
Although marijuana may be a super hybrid of the space age, it is still primarily considered a recreational drug (although one is widely used for medicinal purposes), which prevents regulators and researchers from fully acknowledging its scientific potential. Hanuš is optimistic that the project’s findings, in any case, can eliminate some stigma and speed up its scientific acceptance.
“If interesting results are posted, it may speed up our understanding of cannabis,” he said. “It’s a very important plant and I think if humans cross space and start life on another planet, it will have a huge future.”
