You might struggle keep a pot plant alive in your living room, but the next humans to step foot on the moon will have a far greater gardening challenge.  

NASA will grow plants including duckweed, cress and brassica in a mini lunar greenhouse when the Artemis III mission returns humans to the moon.

Lunar Effects on Agricultural Flora, or LEAF, is one of the three experiments that have been chosen to go to the moon in 2026. 

This will be the first time that the American space agency has attempted to grow plants on the moon – and could be the key to feeding future space missions. 

NASA Deputy Administrator Performance V Capsules prix Pam Melroy says: ‘These three deployed instruments were chosen to begin scientific investigations that will address key Moon to Mars science objectives.’

NASA has announced plans to grow plants on the moon as part of the Artemis III mission which will return humans to the lunar surface, as illustrated in this NASA artist’s concept