Awards & Nominations
CIBASTRA has received the following awards and nominations. Way to go!
Global Nominee
CIBASTRA: Cibum Ad Astra
High-Level Project Summary
CIBASTRA is a highly modular system that grows microgreens. The system features single-use, hydrophilically coated scaffolding embedded with microgreen seeds (PLATEZ). PLATEZ are used to direct the resting of water in microgravity, leaving it in a rectangular prism-like shape in order to hydroponically grow the greens. When surrounded in a hydrophobic mesh barrier and LED grow lights, the PLATEZ form the backbone of a compact microgreen farm. CIBASTRA yields produce every 7-9 days, with each module producing nutrients needed for the crew’s survival. This system should help to curb malnutrition on long space voyages. We hope that CIBASTRA will help feed the next generation of space voyagers
Link to Project "Demo"
Link to Final Project
Detailed Project Description
The CIBASTRA system is made up of 3 main components: PLATEZ, BOX, and GROW.
The PLATEZ system (see google drive for diagram) is arguably the most important part of CIBASTRA. Each plate is a 16*5.5*0.72cm rectangular prism of hydrophilically coated (using a coating similar to the aculon hydrophilic coating) scaffolding material. This material is used to guide the water, effectively having water coat the pockets of space inside the scaffolding, instead of the traditional sphere water typically forms in microgravity. This creates a pool of water for our microgreens to hydroponically grow, thus eliminating the need for a growth substrate. We found that growth systems in testing right now only grow to produce in the earth-traditional up orientation. Based on this, it was decided that growing on both sides of a substrate would double the amount of sustenance able to be produced in a given surface area.
The BOX system (see google drive for diagram) is the main hub of CIBASTRA, it is used to provide water and connect the PLATEZ. Water is delivered and retrieved through one-way valves that the spikes at end of the PLATEZ enter into. We found that most space-based systems are not stacked, even though they are on some highly efficient earth-based systems. We decided to implement this on our BOX, with each BOX having room for 3 PLATEZ on each side, with a total of 6 instead of the 2 before.
The GROW system is the control system of CIBASTRA. It utilizes High powered LEDs used by NASA APH, so no new innovation is needed. These LEDs are turned on for the optimal amount of time instead of being constantly on to save power. We are using high-pressure sodium lamps that are already being used for indoor agriculture. NASA uses this same technology. The Entire system is encased in a hydrophobic mesh so airflow can be sustained while keeping cross contamination to a minimum, and any potential water spills contained.
The Cibastra system is an extremely lightweight system. Each BOX weighs 470 grams, and each disposable PLATEZ weighs 5 grams, and grows ~280 microgreens. The GROW system weighs different amounts depending on the size of the farm.
CIBASTRA is a completely modular system, and with the same components, we can create a system able to supply nutrients to any number of people. Here are the Nutritional contents for each plate. This leads to a system that can be utilized in numerous sized space systems.
We hope that CIBASTRA will improve the diets and lives of space voyagers in the coming years with our compact, inexpensive, and modular system.
In order to create 2D diagrams after each brainstorm, Adobe Photoshop CC was called upon. Its intuitive brush tools made it easy for us to manoeuvre our way through ideas. Our drawings were converted to 3D models using Blender's rich collection of tools. Due to Blender's open-source nature, we were able to uncover a Python-based script entitled, "QuickDeform" developed by Jama Jurabaev and Aleksandr Kilimnik, which allowed us to effectively manipulate meshes in 3D space; this endowed us with the ability to visualize our product concept accurately. Using the OptiX, the ray-tracing API developed by NVIDIA, we are able to exponentially shorten our rendering time.
Space Agency Data
We utilized NASA data for LEDs in crop-growth
Hackathon Journey
During the past weekend, our team has been regularly collaborating and discussing ideas for this project. At first, we began with a brainstorming session where we spat out and vaguely organized the thoughts at the top of our heads and considered many different approaches such as potatoes. Next, we came up with our first half-concrete design involving misty water, as well as the design for our push-and-pull system. Lastly, our final project was decided, in which we used a tray arrangement that would operate in cycles just like our previous ideas, and this arrangement, we thought, would work best to suit this challenge. During the development of this concept, we worked on 3D and 2D models and simulations (and the Mathematics behind them), as well as conducting online research and the creation of these texts.
We would like to sincerely thank the following people for all of their support towards the finalization of our project: Apoorva Tumu, Ian Lockhart, Steven Ten Holder.
References
Tags
#SpaceAgriculture, #Microgreens, #MissionTechnology, #MarsMissions
Global Judging
This project has been submitted for consideration during the Judging process.