Chemist Emerges From Chamber, Craves a Bath

A British chemist taking part in the first NASA test of its kind emerged from a 100-square-foot sealed chamber Tuesday after 15 days during which he relied on 30,000 wheat plants for oxygen.

Nigel Packham, 34, said he felt fine but in dire need of a bath. “It sure smells sweet out here, there’s no doubt.” He entered the airtight, showerless chamber on July 24.

NASA said the project shows humans can someday thrive on the moon or Mars with systems that recycle life-sustaining elements.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration wanted to demonstrate that plants alone can provide breathable air for one person for 15 days. Packham’s role was to provide carbon dioxide for the 10- to 12-inch wheat plants.

As it turned out, the plants produced so much oxygen that some of it had to be pumped out. Packham didn’t quite provide enough carbon dioxide, so the plants drew some from outside.

Packham had a telephone, modem-equipped computer, television, videocassette recorder, exercise bike and round-the-clock monitoring.