Division: SSSA Division: Soil Physics and Hydrology

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

Lead Community Sponsor:
Cosponsor: 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
Community Cosponsor:
Format: Oral Topical Session
Keywords: plant growth, soil habitability, soil science and space exploration

Session Description: 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.