Greenhouse
Growing plants in a Greenhouse delivers oxygen and food. It can play an important part in human recreation. The sunlight is not bright enough on Mars to allow usual terrestrial plants to thrive, but it provides a valuable part of light energy for the plants.
The greenhouse is made from transparent material, allowing spectral parts of the sunlight to pass. The spectral properties of the material should be optimized to match the absorption characteristics of chlorophyll, maximizing the energy gain.
Plants need a mix of air pressure and temperature. The greenhouse must be strong enough to hold that air pressure, and it must be insulating to hold the temperature inside.
Additional energie is necessary to light and heat the greenhouse.
Open Issues
- How much greenhouse area is needed per person?
- How much additional energie is needed per square meter?
- What temperature and pressure do plants need?
- What transparent materials match the absorption characteristics of chlorophyll?
