Demeter Mission

https://www.canva.com/design/DAEr0vMpoa0/pa1mHtFur4FK8Byexdur0w/view?utm_content=DAEr0vMpoa0&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=sharebutton

https://demeter-mission.herokuapp.com/ https://github.com/Guilhermevang/demeter

• Operation:

The Greenhouse Ceres 1 is an innovative growth chamber for microgravity food production. The system will be based on a natural ecosystem.

The greenhouse would work semi-automatically, requiring the action of the crew, when it is the planting and harvesting period.

To start the process, astronauts must plant the seeds of the food chosen in the greenhouse, in it there are vertical drawers with two defined planting systems, aeroponics and hydroponics, each plant should be planted in its ideal system.

The crew will pull one of the desired vertical drawers to carry out the planting, with the ideal amount of planting already defined.

After planting, the crew can enjoy the trip while the greenhouse's automated system takes care of regulating standards such as temperature, lighting, oxygen, water, among other parameters.

The water in the reservoir will consist of NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) and water and will be transported by tubes to the compartments that house the seed and the phenolic foam.

The seed would be planted in the phenolic foam, and the system would water the phenolic foam along with the seed at certain times, through tubes that would be very close to the phenolic foam, so that no water is lost, also controlling the lighting, so that the plant can rest, simulating the night here on earth. The other parameters would be measured with sensors and in cases where the plant is not in ideal parameters, the system will reset or control what it needs.

The water that did not infiltrate the phenolic foam will remain in the environment and will be captured by the roof, where it will return to the reservoir.

In the aeroponics system, the seeds would be glued to the phenolic foam with Gum-Guar, which is a natural soluble polymer made from algae, used to hold the seeds in place, and the phenolic foam would be attached to rods so that it doesn't float.

In the hydroponics system we would have a base with phenolic foam attached to not float, the water would circulate between the base part and the phenolic foam.

There is a way to see the plants through a glass panel, seeing the plants can do a lot of good for the crew psychologically.

After the growing period of each plant, it will be time to harvest. The harvest will be done manually by the crew. Afterwards the production will be stored properly, to be consumed.

The entire compartment is well insulated,

Reprocessing: At harvest time, the crew will harvest the food production and will also collect what is left of the phenolic foam, and place it in a compartment next to the greenhouse where the machine will process the phenolic foam and place it in a phenolic foam mold, so it will not be necessary to carry a large amount of phenolic foam.

Phenolic foam is a sterile substrate that is used for rooting plants, provides good water retention and aeration for plant development.

Planting begins a few months after the spacecraft departs, and there is, right after the first harvest, a balance between packaged food and planted food. In this way the crew would be fed with nutrients and food varieties.

                                                                                           Parameters and Data:

- The size of the greenhouse would be 1.5m x 1m x 1m. Using the planting plan.

- Seeds of high nutritional value (eg quinoa) for the production of micro-greens.

- The entire compartment is well insulated.

- Nutrients diluted in water, used in aeroponics and hydroponics.

- Lighting through LED's.

- Parameters: Temperature, Lighting, Oxygen, Irrigation, Humidity;

- Automatic control panel with manual option.

- Use of sensors to control the cultivation and monitor the growth of micro-greens and in cases where the plant is not in ideal parameters, the system will restore or control what it needs.

- Cycle of each crop: 7 days, from planting the seed to harvesting for consumption.

- Two systems:

In aeroponics, the seeds would be glued to the phenolic foam with Gum-Guar, which is used to hold the seeds in place, and the phenolic foam would be fixed to rods so that it does not float.

In the hydroponics system we would have a base with phenolic foam attached to not float, the water would circulate between the base part and the phenolic foam.

- The greenhouse would work semi-automatically, planting and harvesting manually.

- The view inside the greenhouse will be made from a glass panel, seeing the plants can be very good for the crew psychologically.

- The system can be transported off the ship.

- The seeds would be planted in the phenolic foam.

In the aeroponics system, the seeds would be glued to the phenolic foam with Gum-Guar, which is a natural soluble polymer made from algae, used to hold the seeds in place, and the phenolic foam would be attached to rods so that it doesn't float.

Taking into account the foods needed to keep the crew healthy, such as potatoes, strawberries and chayote, the size of the greenhouse would be 1.5m x 1m x 1m. Using the planting plan.

Planting begins a few months after the spacecraft departs, and there is, right after the first harvest, a balance between packaged food and planted food. In this way the crew would be fed with nutrients and food varieties.

• Benefits:

The greenhouse's hydroponics and aeroponics system guarantee efficiency, reliability, compactness, economy, versatility, production potential and time optimization. In addition, because the system is semi-automatic, the planting and harvesting process is psychologically healthy for astronauts.

• Hopings:

We hope to solve the main problem of existing greenhouses for space exploration missions with an inexpensive product with a semi-automatic, economic, practical and compact system.

• Development:

Coding language: JavaScript

Software: Figma, Visual Studio

Hardware: PC

We used all resources provided by NASA for the challenge. We decided to rely solely on NASA data as it is the largest space exploration and research agency in the world.

It was an amazing experience for our team. We did a lot of brainstorming and had ideas that didn't go forward, and others that did. We learned a lot about development and teamwork. We hope to be more and more prepared for future hackathons.

There was no specific reason for choosing this challenge. But, we liked the idea of ​​developing a food system for long-term exploration missions to planets like Mars right from the start. We were enchanted by the idea.

We tried to create a holistic approach that would integrate all team members to develop this project. I believe we were quite successful at this point, because everyone was able to use their skills for the benefit of the team and the progress of the project.

We resolve setbacks and challenges through communication. Everyone on the team was 100% informed and in sync throughout the course of the project. That was essential!

I would like to thank everyone on the team for all their effort and full cooperation and commitment at all times. Also, I thank my city's evaluation committee and a strong thanks to NASA, for providing us with opportunities to develop projects to solve incredible challenges and have spectacular experiences and learning.

Resources:

-All resources provided by NASA for the challenge.

Data:

-Brazilian food composition table data

Tools:

-Inventor and other 3d modeling software

-Github

-Canva

-Ilustrator

-Visual Studio

-Paint 3D

#ceres #demeter #spacefood

This project has been submitted for consideration during the Judging process.