Lunaria One secured the place on a 2025 space mission to study plant growth on the moon

An ambitious Australian project aiming to explore the viability of growing plants on the moon has successfully booked a spot on a lunar landing mission slated for next year. This initiative, spearheaded by Lunaria One, plans to send seeds and plants to the lunar surface, with their development being closely monitored in comparison to similar experiments conducted on Earth by students and the general public.

The project, named the Australian Lunar Experiment Promoting Horticulture (ALEPH), will be part of Intuitive Machines’ third lunar mission, IM-3. It has garnered substantial backing, including a $3.6 million grant from the Australian Space Agency. Previously, in 2022, there were plans to transport Lunaria’s experiment on the Israeli Beresheet 2 lander, but its future now seems uncertain.

In addition to the scientific goals, the ALEPH mission will involve the Australian community by having them participate in parallel experiments at home and in schools. These community scientists will contribute their observations to a live scientific database, enhancing the mission’s breadth of data.

Collaboration extends to academic institutions and businesses. RMIT University leads the payload design, ensuring it can withstand the harsh conditions of space and support life on the moon. Contributions also come from Lunar Outpost Oceania, CSIRO, Micropod, InvertiGro, and several universities and international partners, all bringing expertise to optimize plant growth in the lunar environment.

In February, Intuitive Machines marked a milestone by becoming the first commercial entity to land on the moon. Although the lander, named Odysseus, ended up resting on its side, the mission was still deemed a success by both the company and NASA, highlighting the achievement of a soft lunar touchdown.

Despite facing funding challenges for a planned second lunar mission with SpaceIL’s Beresheet 2, Lunaria One remains committed to its goals, continuing to prepare for future opportunities to advance lunar agriculture.