초록:
This study aims to recreate the environment of Mars on Earth and explore the potential for plant growth under various conditions, providing foundational data for future Mars exploration and terraforming research. To achieve this, the soil and atmospheric conditions of Mars were analyzed, and various experiments were designed based on this analysis. First, a comparative analysis of the components of Martian regolith and Earth soil was conducted using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), revealing that elements such as K, Ti, and Ar are significantly lacking in Martian soil compared to Earth soil. Additionally, the atmospheric composition of Mars was analyzed through spectral observations to study the effects of low atmospheric pressure and a CO₂-dominated environment on plant growth. To experiment with the germination and growth potential of plants in such an environment, several variables were established. The germination rate in Martian regolith was found to take longer than in Earth soil. Subsequently, experiments using various fertilizers showed that the addition of silicate fertilizer resulted in the highest germination rate and growth speed. Furthermore, when comparing germination rates in environments with controlled Martian atmospheric pressure and composition, it was confirmed that germination is possible even at low pressure if sufficient moisture and oxygen are provided. Based on these findings, additional environments capable of supplying oxygen and moisture were created, and experiments were conducted using CO₂ sensors, which observed changes in CO₂ concentration as a result of photosynthesis and cellular respiration. This study confirmed that under appropriate conditions, plant growth is possible even in Martian environments, indicating the potential for establishing a self-sustaining Martian ecosystem. This research provides experimental evidence for the possibility of plant growth on Mars and is expected to serve as important foundational data for the development of future Mars exploration and terraforming technologies.
주제어: 테라포밍, 화성모조토, XRF, 식물