ASTROSEED

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iwSn4oVrWeID5a1FFA2BT7oEVYkpp06K?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Ox5Y5BICjgLAj39maWEXnbCOtMCskU3q?usp=sharing

Our challenge was to design a supplemental crop production system that supports a crew on a long-duration exploration mission to Mars and back to Earth, or on a mission to an early surface habitat on the Moon or Mars.

𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧: 

Plants/Crops

We've figured out a method to deliver some of that extra nourishment. Perhaps when we truly need these essential nutrients, that space will become available. We can produce lettuce, Chinese cabbage, berries, and beans, as well as long-term crops like tomatoes and peppers. Foods high in antioxidants, like berries, some legumes, and other antioxidant-rich foods, provide some space radiation protection for crew members who consume them.

Scurvy was caused by a lack of vitamin C, and vitamin shortages can lead to a variety of other health issues. 

The gravitational effect

Space Station International (ISS) Going to the surface of Mars is a partial gravity situation in a microgravity setting. As a result, it's a lot more like how we grow plants on Earth. Plant roots grow skewed, much like their Earthly counterparts, implying that gravity isn't required for root orientation. Plants will seek out nutrients even if gravity isn't a factor.

Effect of Radiation

Because once we pass through the earth magnetosphere on these long-distance journeys, we are now exposed to galactic cosmic radiation as well as high-energy solar particle events in which we have never grown plants before.

A deployable greenhouse is an excellent way to supply fresh fruits and vegetables to astronauts in space.

Increased UV-B radiation has been shown to have particular impacts on crops. UV-B interferes with photosynthesis in many plant species. UV-B overexposure decreases the growth, productivity, and quality of many crop plant species, and increases disease susceptibility.

Medium for growth

Each plant may be grown in a "cushion" that contains a clay-based growing medium and fertilizer. The cushions are necessary for maintaining a healthy balance of water, nutrients, and the air around the roots. Otherwise, due to the way fluids in space tend to create bubbles, the roots would either drown in water or be swallowed by air. Otherwise, due to the way fluids in space tend to create bubbles, the roots would either drown in water or be swallowed by air.

On Earth, farmers may simply cultivate a large number of plants using the 18-6-8 method and manually supply potassium.

But that isn't feasible in space. Although there is evidence that gardening may reduce stress even in space,

In addition to water, seedlings, and the fibrous husks of coconuts, we can use Control –release fertilizer 14-4-14 NPK formulation (14 parts nitrogen, 4 parts phosphate, and 14 parts potassium.) to replace the liquid feed and the need for multiple applications, in addition to water, seedlings, and the fibrous husks of coconuts to hold the plant roots instead of soil or baked ceramic.

We may use a nano-sized variant of the 14-4-14 formula, which uses considerably smaller granules, to achieve seed-to-seedling yields. On virtually every seed, we can achieve a flawless yield. We can accomplish virtually flawless fertilizer dispersion with this nano-size form of fertilizer. Thin soils with nothing to them struggle to hold moisture or allow plants to grow with the Nanoclay method. All of this may be significantly altered by the presence of clay in the proper quantities. We have a strategy to seize unproductive Mars land using nano clay.

Clay is a temperamental creature. If it's too small, it won't have much of an effect. If you use too much clay, it may build a waterproof crust on the sand's surface or make compaction more likely. We can make a clay formula that can simply be mixed with sand to create living soil. so that we can make the proper nano clay formula 

Due to their chemical makeup, clay particles have a negative charge, whereas sand grains have a positive charge. This inherent polarity implies that when they physically contact, they bond. A 200-300 nanometre coating of clay forms a snowflake-like structure around each sand particle as a result. Instead of being lost as runoff through the soil, this increased surface area allows water and nutrients to cling to the sand and chemically react with it.

The clay's functioning is similar to that of organic matter, allowing soil plants and fauna to establish themselves and store water. Nanoclay is best adapted to pull only sandy soils out of the regression, like as on Mars and the Moon, once conditions have been stabilized and nutrients have been made accessible.

Seeds can be pasted onto wicks, which are the white flaps that protrude from the top of a plant cushion. Guar gum, a water-soluble natural polymer derived from guar beans, is used as the adhesive. The growth media (calcined clay – commonly used to prepare baseball infields), controlled-release fertilizer, and water are all contained in the Teflon-coated black Kevlar plant pillows, which have a Nomex bottom (injected through a quick-disconnect valve). Kevlar is a strong synthetic fibre, while Nomex is a flame and heat-resistant synthetic fibre.

Aeroponics

Aeroponics is the method of growing plants without the use of soil or aggregate medium in an air or mist environment. Unlike hydroponics, which uses a liquid nutrient solution as a growing medium and essential minerals to sustain plant growth, and aquaponics, which uses water and fish waste to sustain plant growth, aeroponics does not use a growing medium.

Plant shoots are inoculated in holes made in a styrofoam sheet and emerging roots are dangled in the air in a typical aeroponic unit. To aid in maintaining optimum conditions, the chamber could be lined with a black poly sheet. 

In the chamber, there is dampness and darkness. In aeroponics, plant cuttings are misted through nozzles that are evenly spaced and attached to PVC pipes for nutritional solution supply. The pipeline is connected to the motor, which uses high pressure to pump the nutritional solution. A digital timer is attached to the pump to control the fertilizer spraying for a predetermined time interval. Depending on the scale of the aeroponics unit setup and the cultivated plants, the space between nozzles and their pressure, the spacing of styrofoam holes, the pumping capacity of the motor, the duration of nutrient spraying, and the time interval between two consecutive sprays may vary.

The nutrient solution dripping from the suspended roots in the tank is recycled by being pushed back to the water tank. Depending on the filling capacity of the nutrient tank and the growth of microorganisms, the nutrient solution is changed at specific time intervals to ensure the check of contaminating bacteria impacting plant growth. Infected plants are removed to prevent illness from spreading to other plants.

Light

The lights are placed for photosynthesis and to provide the plants with a feeling of direction so that they may continue to climb higher. The Veggie chamber's walls extend to accommodate the growing produce.

In the absence of gravity, plants orient and control their development using other environmental variables such as light. Above the plants, a bank of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) emits a spectrum of light that is optimal for plant development. Plants use more red and blue wavelengths and reflect a lot of green light.

Plant pigment molecules absorb only light in the 700 nm to 400 nm wavelength range, which is known as photosynthetically active radiation. Violet and blue have the shortest wavelengths and carry the greatest energy, whereas red has the longest wavelengths and the least energy. Pigments reflect or transmit the wavelengths they can't absorb, resulting in the colour you see.

The primary pigments in plants are chlorophylls and carotenoids; whereas there are hundreds of carotenoids, there are only five significant chlorophylls: a, b, c, d, and bacteriochlorophyll. Chlorophyll absorbs light in the blue-violet range, chlorophyll b absorbs light in the red-blue range, and both absorb and reflect green light (which is why chlorophyll appears green). Carotenoids absorb light in the blue-green and violet ranges and reflect longer wavelengths in the yellow, red, and orange ranges, as well as releasing surplus energy from the cell.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as a source of photosynthetic energy are one of the more recent technologies in the quest of high-density cultivation of a variety of crops. A high-density modular plant production unit prototype with genetically identical lettuce plants growing under three distinct light spectrum regimes (red, white, and blue). LEDs are increasingly often used as supplementary, if not sole-source, illumination for plants.

LEDs emit a distinct narrow band of light that corresponds to a small portion of the solar spectrum. Many LEDs are available that practically span the visible light spectrum, as well as ultraviolet bands and far-red to infrared components. Indeed, we might appear to outperform the sun in the production of many plant commodities thanks to the new features of LED lights.

*Lettuce plants are grown under three distinct light spectra with variations in accumulated biomass and anthocyanin (pigment) expression in the leaves. *Radish plants collected from a plant growth chamber. Red and blue LED lights were used to cultivate the plants. Plants of red leaf lettuce were also collected. Plants of red leaf lettuce were also collected from a plant growth chamber that had been lit with red and blue LED lights.

*wheat plants were leggy and nearly bleached out; lettuce and radishes were grown under red and blue LEDs, as well as broad-spectrum white fluorescent lights with the green light present.

 Fluorescent lights helped to solve these issues, but today's LEDs are even more efficient. Under the red and blue LEDs, the hue turns a darker red, indicating a higher content of anthocyanin, a strong antioxidant that can help counteract some of the effects of cosmic radiation. Even little adjustments in light quality can boost the antioxidant capabilities of crops like lettuce.

Microbial contamination

One source of worry was the presence of dangerous bacteria on the vegetables. Infections may be causing problems for plants in space. We can accomplish this by altering plant protein sensors, which are always looking for indications of bacteria. Bacteria swim with the aid of a whip-like structure called a flagellum, which is made up of 22 amino acids known as "flag-22." Plants are on the lookout for flag-22, and as soon as they detect it, their defensive mechanisms activate. Scientists can spray the plants with a non-toxic solution of flag-22. “The plant panics and believes it is being assaulted. Plants will be able to protect themselves entirely.

The microorganism as a nutritional supplement

Proteins and oxygen, two essential elements for survival in space, are produced by microorganisms. Less food would need to be transported or provided on space missions if edible biomass could be created from carbon dioxide within the crop production system. Because of its high protein content, algae can replace around 30% of an astronaut's diet.

•Onboard the space station, grow Chlorella Vulgaris, tiny algae. The algae generate nutritious biomass that astronauts might eat in addition to creating oxygen. Another popular microalgae, chlorella, is nutritionally comparable to spirulina. It's also utilized as a dietary supplement with potential metabolic benefits.

• Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) is a blue-green microalga that may be used as a source of nutrition. Spirulina is a high-protein, high-nutrient algae that are used as a dietary supplement and to treat malnutrition. The plants generate a wide range of minerals as well as a lot of protein. Commercially, spirulina is frequently utilized as a dietary supplement.

•Sea lettuce (Ulva Lactuca) may also be used in salads and soups.

•Aphanizomenon flos-aquae is a cyanobacterium that is used as a nutritional supplement and is comparable to spirulina.

Keeping our  seeds

Seeds should be kept in glass containers that are firmly sealed. Different types of seeds can be kept together in a big container, each in its paper package. Seeds should be kept dry and cold. Your refrigerator might be a suitable location to store seeds if the temperature is between 32° and 41°F.

A tiny amount of silica-gel desiccant put into each container will absorb moisture from the air and aid in the drying of the seeds. (for drying purposes, silica gel in bulk)

Powdered milk can be used as a desiccant. (From a freshly opened container, use one to two teaspoons of milk powder.) Place the powder in the jar containing the seeds after wrapping it in a piece of face tissue. For roughly six months, powdered milk will absorb extra moisture from the air.) The lesser the germination and vitality of the seed, the older it is.

Rigidity in Space

There is a link between plant lignin content and microgravity. Plant lignans have functions that are similar to those of human bones. Plants get structure and stiffness from them, as well as the ability to stand erect against gravity. Plants with less lignin can live and operate correctly in space if they are genetically modified. This might provide numerous benefits for space-grown plants, including improved nutrient absorption when consumed by humans and quicker composting of plant waste.

𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧: 

Stature –

Hexagonal Prism structural selection:-

1. 2. 3.

Modern Aviation mostly used Hexagonal Prism the structure because of its strength. Hexagon is used because we can increase the volume.

Honey structural Storage compartments used especially we can store more weight

•  New water Supply:-

1. Volume decrease.
2. Weight decrease.

•  Water plumbing:-

1. Honey structural Storage compartments used small water lines.
2. Horizontal plantation area using big water line and also control it using an
3. electronic method.

•  Vertical plantation bridge:-

1. High Strength less weight

 Electronic and Battery Placing Compartments

1. attery Placing Compartment Had low volume.
2. Circuit Board Placing Upper then we have extra volume for wiring.

e use the Arduino platform to automate the system. We used C++ for coding as the programming language. There, we designed Arduino diagrams to measure the moisture of the soil, water pumping and control the LED strips.

We used a lightweight concrete foam layer to protect the crops from the UV and GCR rays. Its density is 1842 Kg/m3. So we thought that that can decrease the volume as well.

This is the net view diagram of our hexagonal prism structure.

Here, we use the Arduino chip without the board. But we mentioned the whole Arduino board to identify the system.

Then this is the net view of the soil sensor diagram.

We use this code to automate the soil moisture sensors.

#include "arduino.h"

/*DIGITAL PINS FOR THE SENSOR DATA*/ 

#define sensor1 A0

#define sensor2 A1

static int water pump; /*DIGITAL PINS FOR THE MOTOR PUMP*/

int soillevel1, soillevel2; /*STORE THE SOIL LEVEL*/

void setup() {

 /*setting up pin modes*/

 pinMode(waterpump,OUTPUT);

 pinMode(sensor1,INPUT);

 pinMode(sensor2,INPUT);

 Serial.begin(9600);

}

void loop(){ 

 /*reading the sensor values from the digital pins*/

 soillevel1 = map(analogRead(sensor1),1023,0,0,100);

 soillevel2 = map(analogRead(sensor2),1023,0,0,100);

 /*if the soil moisture levels are less than 10 in sensor 1 and sensor 2

  *switch on the pump

  */

 if ((soillevel1 < 10) || (soillevel2 < 10 )){

  /*switching on the pump*/

  digitalWrite(waterpump, HIGH);

 }else if((soillevel2 > 80) || (soillevel2 > 80)){

  /*switch off the pump*/

  digitalWrite(waterpump, LOW);

 }

 delay(3000);

}

This is given as an example for our coding. Other coding projects are submitted to google drive in the Final Project.

So as this is our research, we hope that some of the issues with volume and mass have been solved. We developed the crop system for 8-10 astronauts. They can have supplementary food from our food product system.

·       Each plant grows in a “pillow” filled with clay-based growth media and fertilizer.

·       A bank of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) above the plants produces a spectrum of light suited for the plants’ growth.

·       Veggie has successfully grown a variety of plants, including three types of lettuce, Chinese cabbage, mizuna mustard, red Russian kale and zinnia flowers

·       Foods like berries, certain beans and other antioxidant-rich foods would have the added benefit of providing some space radiation protection for crew members who eat them.

• Plant pillows are Teflon-coated black Kevlar with a Nomex bottom, which contains the growth controlled-release fertilizer.

Automating systems in the Veggie project. Soil moisture sensors, Led strips controlling and Water pumping materials

We learned about this challenge from the SEDS chapters available at our universities. I decided to take part in this challenge because of my passion for astronomy and the desire to one day see a rocket launch from NASA. It is for this reason that all our members have agreed to participate in this competition.

This challenge is the first experience of me and my team members. We formed a team in 7 days and got ready for research. We all agreed to choose the "have seeds will travel" challenge. Then the tasks of this research were shared according to our skills and abilities. Then our project was discussed to be done in two stages. So even though we could not come together and design in the face of this Covid 19 plague, we discussed how to make this using the zoom platform. Accordingly, our research was carried out as described above.

Here we could study the latest crop production systems being developed by NASA. Gained an understanding of its existing features and concepts to be further explored.

Our first challenge was to correctly identify this challenge. Then add new ideas for this. Accordingly, we came up with new ideas and concepts in several stages. The use of hexagonal prism was proposed. The reasons for this are given above. In addition, we added other new concepts.

We are here to thank the SEDS chapters in our universities because we participated in this challenge according to their information. We would also like to pay our respects to SEDS Srilanka. We are also grateful to all the staff members, including the mentors who supervised us and guided us throughout this hackathon. 

1. Improving upon the sun: “LED lights fuel plant growth in space.” The Conversation,          https://theconversation.com/improving-upon-the-sun-led-lights-fuel-plant-growth-in-space-89631( accessed October 1, 2021).

2.  “the liquid turning desert to farmland.” Bbc.com,https://www.bbc.com/future/bespoke/follow-the-food/the-spray-that-turns-deserts-into-farmland.html (accessed October 1, 2021)

3.https://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/home/plant_growth.htmlhttps://2021.spaceappschallenge.org/challenges/statements/have-seeds-will-travel/resources [Accessed 3 October 2021]. [online] Available

4. Udit Sharma. “Aeroponics for the propagation of horticultural plants: an approach for vertical farming” https://medcraveonline.com/HIJ/aeroponics-for-propagation-of-horticultural-plants-an-approach-for-vertical-farming.html

#NASA #CropProductionSystem #Arduino #GreenMars #ASTROSEED #Astroseed #SpaceSeeds