FIT’s John Kiss was part of a team that ran a fluid dynamics experiment during a Blue Origin capsule’s recent suborbital journey. The rotating vehicle acted as a centrifuge to produce about two minutes of lunar gravity. “This project presented a unique opportunity to test fluid dynamics in lunar gravity to gain insights into the cultivation of plants, which is important for bioregenerative life support on the Moon,” says Kiss.

Water distribution in plants and its percolation through soil relies on gravity. It is not yet known whether the lower gravity on the moon will be enough to support these processes. The experiment compared the effects of lunar gravity on aqueous solutions of different viscosities. Acceleration, temperature, time, and images of the fluid distribution were recorded.

• John Kiss