363 New Frontiers of Soil and Plant Sciences: Astropedology and Space Agriculture

Oral Session
SSSA Division: Soil Physics and Hydrology
Space exploration has created a brand-new window of opportunity for the study of extraterrestrial soils – "astropedology" – as well as space agriculture. Exciting frontiers abound, which in return can enhance terrestrial soil and plant sciences by placing Earth's soils and agriculture in a planetary context. Decades of space exploration have gathered significant information regarding the surfaces of planets, moons, asteroids, and comets that may be considered as soils or soil candidates. Growing food on space stations, in spaceships, and even on the Moon and Mars will become more of a necessity for life-support system in extended missions.

Approved for 3.5 PD CEUs

Cosponsor(s):

SSSA Division: Pedology
SSSA Division: Soil Mineralogy
SSSA Division: Soil and Water Management and Conservation
ASA Section: Agronomic Production Systems
ASA Section: Education and Extension

Wednesday, November 9, 2016: 7:55 AM-12:00 PM
Phoenix Convention Center North, Room 125 B

Organizers:
Hangsheng Lin and Jim Bell
Moderators:
Hangsheng Lin and Jim Bell
7:55 AM
Introductory Remarks
8:00 AM
A Planetary View of Soils: An Introduction to Astropedology and Space Agriculture.
Hangsheng Lin, Pennsylvania State University; Jim Bell, Arizona State University
9:05 AM
The Soil of Mars.
Ronald G. Amundson, University of California-Berkeley
9:25 AM
Amorphous Salts in the Martian Regolith.
Deanne Rogers, Stony Brook University; Elizabeth Sklute, Mt. Holyoke College; Jason Gregerson, Stony Brook University; Richard Reeder, Stony Brook University; Darby Dyar, Mt. Holyoke College
9:40 AM
Soil Crystallinity As a Climate Indicator: Field Experiments on Earth and Mars.
Briony Horgan, Purdue University; Noel Scudder, Purdue University; Elizabeth Rampe, Aerodyne - Jacobs JETS contract NASA Johnson Space Center; Alicia Rutledge, Purdue University
9:55 AM
Break
10:10 AM
The Martian: It's Not Just Science Fiction.
Bruce Bugbee, Utah State University; Scott B. Jones, Utah State University; Jeanette M. Norton, Utah State University
10:30 AM
Microbial Habitability in Gale Crater: Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) Instrument Detection of Microbial Essential Carbon and Nitrogen.
Brad Sutter, Jacobs Techology; Douglas W. Ming, NASA; Jennifer Eigenbrode, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; Andrew Steele, Carnegie Institution of Washington; Jennifer Stern, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; Rafael Gonzalez, Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico; Amy McAdam, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; Paul Mahaffy, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
11:00 AM
The Microgravity Effects on Upward Infiltration in Porous Media.
Naoto Sato, Meiji University; Kosuke Noborio, Meiji University; Yuichi Maruo, Meiji University
11:15 AM
Space Agriculture: Evolution of Plant Growth Technologies.
Oscar Monje, EASI, Inc.; Gary W. Stutte, Vencore-ESC; Raymond M. Wheeler, NASA
11:30 AM
12:00 PM
Adjourn