The Successful Space Seeds Experiment: A Tale of Growth and Discovery
What is the meaning of the word decontamination as it is used in the excerpt?
The meaning of the word decontamination as it is used in the excerpt is that the place was neutralized or cleaned out of dangerous substances like any radioactive or germs related diseases.
Final Answer:
The term 'decontamination' in the provided context refers to the removal or neutralization of harmful substances from the command module 'Kitty Hawk' after its lunar mission.
Explanation:
In the context of the provided excerpt, decontamination refers to the process of removing or neutralizing harmful substances, usually germs or contaminants, from an object or person. In this case, after the return of the command module 'Kitty Hawk' from its lunar mission, it would have been necessary to carry out a decontamination procedure to ensure that no potential lunar dust or other foreign substances possibly harmful to humans or earth's environment were brought back to the earth by the mission.
In February 1971, astronaut Roosa carried more than 2000 seeds in the cannister in his personal kit while orbiting the Moon in the command module 'Kitty Hawk'. Unfortunately, the seed bags burst open during the decontamination procedures after their return to Earth.
The seeds were spread out across the chamber and exposed to vacuum, leading to doubts about their viability. Stan Krugman collected the seeds, and some were planted in Houston. Surprisingly, the seeds started to sprout successfully. However, due to subpar facilities, they did not thrive for long.
A significant number of seeds and subsequent cuttings grew into healthy seedlings, but not all states received trees as these were southern and western species. Despite the challenges faced during the experiment, it provided valuable insights and discoveries about space agriculture.