An Australian start-up is sending a terrarium to the moon, to learn more about how plants grow in space.
The company plans to launch its terrarium, which will contain soil, water and seeds, on a rocket in 2024.
The terrarium will be exposed to the lunar environment for a period of time, before being brought back to Earth, in hopes that the experiment will demonstrate that plants can grow in the harsh conditions of space. The company is currently crowdfunding the project, and is offering rewards including a chance to have your name engraved on the terrarium.
The team is using the terrarium to study how plants and animals respond to the microgravity and radiation environment of space. They hope that their findings will help to improve our understanding of how plants and animals might be able to adapt to life on other planets.
The team’s terrarium is a small but important step in this journey, and it is hoped that it will help to pave the way for future missions to Mars and beyond. Watch an interview about the mission on ABC.
If you’re feeling inspired, why not create your own terrarium! You might even consider creating a space themed terrarium. Check out Etsy for a huge range of terarrium supplies and premade terrariums. You can also visit our Terrarium Gift Ideas page for some inspiration.
