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Significant reductions in electrical-power demand as well as in related mass and physical volume might be achieved if available extraterrestrial solar irradiance could be utilized for plant production in a Bioregenerative Life Support System (BLSS) on Mars. Working estimates of the available photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) at Chryse Planitia (22.3° N, 47.9° W), landing site for the Viking Lander 1 (VL-1) on Mars and geographically near the Mars Pathfinder's landing site, were simulated based on the year-long actual irradiance measurements and downward spectral characteristics made by VL-1 in the 1970's. The results showed that the Wm−2 to µmol m2 s−1 conversion factors for Earth and Mars are essentially equal, being approximately 4.6 µmol m−2 s−1/Wm−2. For half of the total sunshine hours at Chryse Planitia for a whole Martian year, the incident PPF level is at least 400 µmol m−2 s.