Date of Award

5-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences

First Advisor

Andrew G. Palmer

Second Advisor

Toby S. Daly-Engel

Third Advisor

John Z. Kiss

Fourth Advisor

Richard B. Aronson

Abstract

Artemis II demonstrated the growing feasibility and interest in long-term spaceflight missions. Sustainable life support systems will be essential to support the growing duration and distance of these missions. Unlike the International Space Station (ISS) or short-term lunar missions, supplies will be difficult to transport to Mars in sufficient quantities. Instead, more efficient strategies for resource utilization and recycling are required. In-Situ (on-site) Resource Utilization (ISRU) combined with bioregenerative approaches leverages local materials and employs biologically based systems to extract and recycle resources. Martian regolith, the unconsolidated material above bedrock on the Martian surface, contains many of the nutrients necessary for plant growth, though its suitability as a plant growth substrate remains to be demonstrated. Martian regolith simulants (MRSs) like Mars Global Simulant-1 (MGS-1) are used to evaluate the potential for Regolith-Based Agriculture (RBA) and develop the Martian regolith Agricultural Preparation Pipeline (MAPP); however, MGS-1 does not support the germination of species like Lactuca sativa (lettuce), and its water-soluble phase decreases germination, indicating the current MAPP to have gaps in knowledge. In this study, the water-soluble phase of MGS-1 is characterized to assess immediate interactions with plants. Each mineral constituent of MGS-1, as well as common MRSs are physically and visually characterized to create a thorough repository. Seed-mineral interactions of each of the MGS-1 mineral constituents are isolated in their formulation-equivalent concentrations to distinguish plant growth inhibiting mineral concentrations. One constituent is identified to be a high enough concentration to inhibit germination and a threshold of toxicity of this mineral is determined specifically for L. sativa germination. New modified MGS-1 and plant growth media are developed to address this constituent, and germination is successfully restored with the application of a Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria (PGPB). These findings resolve a new step in the development of the MAPP, advancing the production of edible biomass on Mars.

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