A rendering of a produce growth chamber as part of a hypothetical future Mars mission.

One of the biggest challenge living on Mars will be getting food and water for living. Plants would struggle to grow in the different and harsher conditions on the surface of Mars. The lower gravity, lower light levels, different atmosphere, toxic soil and nutrient-lacking soil on the Mars would make it difficult for Earth adapted plants to survive without assistance. According to the International Space Station’s research, plants can grow in microgravity but currently scientists do not know how the reduced gravity on Mars might affect different Earth crops. Mars’ surface only receives

about half the sunlight as Earth does, and any pressurized greenhouse enclosure will further block the light reaching plants, so supplemental light will be needed. Supplying supplemental light requires a significant amount of power. In addition researchers are also studying whether plants can survive under lower pressures than on Earth, because the more pressure inside a greenhouse, the more massive that greenhouse must be to contain it. Until people living on mars find any solution to grow their own food, the food has to be delivered from Earth.

The plans for the green house include a steel or glass mini-dome with a concrete base and built in heaters.