Bees in space - a mission to Mars

Michael McLean

Lachlan Thompson
Aerospace Engineering RMIT

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     Last modified: August 13, 2005

Abstract
The paper outlines research currently being undertaken by Flinders Christian Community College, in association with RMIT. Bees in Space refers to an initiative developed by Associate Professor Lachlan Thompson. The aim of the project is to investigate the feasibility of using bees as plant pollinators in space. The multi-disciplinary research undertaken by Flinders College students will span Mathematics, Science, Humanities, Art, Visual Communication, Materials Technology, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry.

Mankind has dreamed of a manned mission to another planet for centuries. Despite the setbacks and the controversies, just such a mission may now be within our grasp. However, unlike the Moon, such a journey will not be a quick jaunt, with a turn around time of less than a week. Anyone planning to go to Mars needs to allow for a space voyage that will see them away from home for two to five years.

That has implications not just for the astronauts’ sanity, but also for their stomachs; for in order to live that long on another planet, one needs plenty of food and there is only so much storage space on any given rocket. The inescapable conclusion is that fresh food must be grown in space and on Mars, which sounds simple, except for the fact that this depends on pollination and that may depend on bees.

There are no known experiments investigating the suitability of biological pollinators for greenhouses in micro gravity and for Mars. As an ongoing research project, Bees in Space provides the opportunity for new scientific discoveries that could play a vital role in any future manned missions to Mars and beyond.