High-Level Project Summary
We developed a food system that reuses most part of what is grown by the crew. It is based on the sugarcane, because with its by-products it's possible to make nanocellulose for the greenhouse and its leaves and molasses can feed the mushrooms that will provide protein and carbohydrates for the system. The nanocellulose combined with elements of the martian soil (for exemple iron) can turn into a very resistent material, that could be used even to build accomodations. The sugarcane itself is a source of carbohydrates. Furthermore, the fungi kingdom is our ally too, because our system involves a technology which uses fungi and agricultural residues for creating nutricional supplements.
Link to Project "Demo"
Link to Final Project
Detailed Project Description
We've made a 3D project of the Mars greenhouse with the software "SketchUp".
You can acess it on the link: https://youtu.be/SOL4t_IoNUc
The 3D project show what can be a cave, or a lava duct (but the idea works underground too), the sugar cane plantation, the hidroponic system for vegetables, spices and tea plants, the tanks for the seaweed culture and the bins for the mushroom culture.
Another example of the tank for the seaweed culture is on the picture attached bellow that we made with the software "Sweet Home 3D".
We used the Google Blogger plataform to make our own website with our project.
We hope to achieve a system that supplies all the nutritional necessities of the crew, moreover that contain plants with medicinal proprieties and flavours that remind home.
The diet we created is based in mushroom (provides carbohydrates and proteins), seaweed (vitamins and amino acids), suggar cane (carbohydrates), vegetables (vitamins and minerals), spices and tea plants.
The benefits of the projects are, at a first sight, the use of the sugar cane for nanocellulose produce. The nanocellulose can be used to build the greenhouse walls and, combined with elements of the mars soil, it can turn into a very resistent material that could be used even to build the bins for mushroom culture or installations.
In our project every fruit peel, or vegetable residue can be turned into suplemental capsules using an advanced brazillian techinique that is explained in our Final Project Link.
The sugar cane leaves and molasses can be used to feed the mushrooms on the culture.
That way, almost all the by-products that are produced in our system are reused.
A rendered image from our 3D Project:
Inside the greenhouse you can see red and blue LED lights that will be crucial to the plants and seaweeds photosynthesis.
Space Agency Data
CANADA. CANADIAN SPACE AGENCY. . Naurvik project in Nunavut. Available in: https://asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/sciences/food-production/naurvik-project-in-nunavut.asp. Access on: 30 set. 2021
This data from the Canadian Space Agency inspired us to do some reaseach about hydroponic systems. We used hydroponic systems in our project.
GRANATH, Bob. Lunar, Martian Greenhouses Designed to Mimic Those on Earth. Available in: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/lunar-martian-greenhouses-designed-to-mimic-those-on-earth. Access on 30 set. 2021
This data from Nasa inspired us to do some research about greenhouses. We used greenhouses in our project too annd we loved to learn more about it with NASA, our favorite Space Agency.
Hackathon Journey
We would describe our Space Apps experience as a fertilizer for the curiosity seed that already existed inside us. This journey was open-minding. What we learnt is immeasurable and what we will learn too, because the Space Apps leaves us with thirsty for knowledge.
We agree that the reasearch was the best part, because we felt like we were scientists solving real problems and turning the universe into a better place. It was SImilar to the Sci-Fi movies.
We chose this challenge because we love Mars, some of us want to be astronauts and go there and this was an opportunity to study how to make it possible. It was literally challenging, but we had fun in the process.
We learnt how to work as a team and we used all our team members skills to make this project the best one possible. We've become friends and we'll miss our daily online meetings to talk about the project.
We would like to thank our dear friend and teacher "Tio" Leider, who encouraged us to think outside the box and helped us with all his wisdom and knowledge. Adriano helped us with our English questions and Victor helped with his abilities with 3D projects. We are so thankful for all of them.
A quote by "Tio" Leider Só:
"Whether earned or granted, every piece of knowledge implies responsability"
References
CANADÁ. GOVERNMENT OF CANADA. . Growing healthy food in space and in remote areas. Available in: https://asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/sciences/food-production/growing-healthy-food-in-space-and-remote-areas.asp. Access on: 01 out. 2021.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION. . Veggie Fact Sheet. Avilable in: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/veggie_fact_sheet_508.pdf. Access on: 01 out. 2021.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION. . Advanced Plant Habitat. Available in: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/advanced-plant-habitat.pdf. Access on: 01 out. 2021
PEREIRA, Aline. FUNGO MULTIPLICA PROTEÍNAS DE RESÍDUO DE FRUTA. 2001. 1 f. Tese (Doutorado) - Curso de Biologia, Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes, Mogi das Cruzes, 2001. Available in: https://cienciahoje.org.br/fungo-multiplica-proteinas-de-residuo-de-fruta/. Access on: 02 out. 2021.
VIEIRA, Ana Carolina. PRODUÇÃO DE NANOCELULOSE A PARTIR DA CASCA DE EUCALIPTO IODEGRADADA POR “PYCNOPORUS SANGUINEUS”. 2018. 86 f. Dissertação (Mestrado) - Curso de Agronomia, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Botucatu, 2018. Cap. 1. Available in: https://repositorio.unesp.br/bitstream/handle/11449/152776/vieira_ac_me_botfca.pdf;jsessionid=89B2593C0E82ABE1E961C84025D370B8?sequence=5. Access on: 03 out. 2021.
TEIXEIRA, Silvana. Hidroponia: uma técnica de cultivo vantajosa e promissora. Available on: https://www.cpt.com.br/artigos/hidroponia-uma-tecnica-de-cultivo-vantajosa-e-promissora. Access on: 01 out. 2021
Tags
#seeds #water #nasa #Brazil #AEB #mars
Global Judging
This project has been submitted for consideration during the Judging process.