German Aerospace Center plans lunar greenhouses for astronaut food

The German Aerospace Center (DLR), in collaboration with NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), is developing the Lunar Agriculture Module - Ground Test Demonstrator (LAM-GTD). This international project aims to design greenhouse concepts to provide fresh food for astronauts during long-duration lunar missions.

Due to extreme temperatures, lack of atmosphere, scarce water, and cosmic radiation, planting directly in lunar soil is not feasible. The project focuses on controlled cultivation systems that can operate independently of natural environmental conditions. Researchers intend to connect a greenhouse module to a simulated habitat to study plant growth and how these systems can mutually support human life.

The partners aim to decide on the construction of the module by 2032. This follows previous successful experiments on the International Space Station (ISS), where crews cultivated crops such as lettuce, Chinese cabbage, and peppers.