Interstellar Diet LAW

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1yH8ovj7_DgwjjCetKXFNVk6J_i_Kybn7/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109656671791745052761&rtpof=true&sd=true

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Qan2IjGvCHn3k2_35ULSYKdQbvFuiEVx/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=109656671791745052761&rtpof=true&sd=true

Challenge to project the diet system for astronauts is very complex. There are many factors to be taken into consideration. The way in which team solved problem has some crucial points and will demand highly trained and disciplined crew to conduct some maneuvers especially when the flight will be in critical points. Such critical points of the mission are space rendezvous and beginning of crop plantation. Docking is one of the most important points of the mission because it determine if the mission will succeed due to the fact that spacecraft segment with all water/food/fertilizer supplies (also additional energy backup) is launched when the main spacecraft is already on the orbit. The launches is conducted in special queue, first come the rocket with supplies and equipment needed to survive on the surface of Mars , second one is main spacecraft - crew plus avionics/scientific equipment, and when the second launch will be put into orbit the third launch will occure and docking will be conducted.

After this critical moment the spacecraft will be fully formed and will be ready for flight to the Mars orbit. During the flight astronauts will have to initiate the crop production system. Until the crops will be ready to harvest they will have to maintain their diet by eating soluble powders, which are able to provide enough calories and nutrition. About two weeks from planting there will be first harvesting which will give additional nutricients for astronauts and enable them work on the highest possible level.

Crop production will last during entire mission. What is important is that module with plants will not land on the Mars surface. Technologies that are suggested and implemented in the solution is adapted for space and microgravity. The plantations will have their own electric measurement system which will be helpful for astronauts with providing them important information about condition of plants - what they need, if the temperature is appropriate, if there is enough fertilizer in system, if they are ready to harvest etc..

The solution is in early stage. What should be done is next steps are mostly calculation of the amount of supplies that should be brought, determination of diet for specified crew. Moreover we should consider back up systems and be more specific of energy use by plantation. There are also factors such as gases production of plants and efficiency of water renewal systems. It is far way to use such modules in missions and such solutions should be developed at first on ISS and during orbital flights. Then it should have general test during short term mission such as flight to Moon and back to Earth.

Data provided by NASA helped to imagine how plants grow in space and what are the most problems with supplies in orbit. It was very useful and developing to learn what way astronauts eat and drink. However, it was weird to learn how water reuse system work (it is very similar to the system described by Herbert in Diuna). Data about APH inspired us to seek for solutions with gardening without soil. It was the beginning of searching for different hydroponic systems which lead to seeking for plants that can provide enough nutrition for the crew.

The idea of making a space rendezvous and separate modules of spacecraft came from the previous missions starting from Gemini and Apollo and newly developed docking systems used during Dragon missions. We thought it can be useful in terms of long duration missions, when we have to take many equipment and the mass is over the maximum mass permitted for take off, to make more launches and built segment spacecraft in the orbit.

It is first Space Apps Challenge for our Team and definitely it is very positive experience. The knowledge we gained during hackathon is huge. We have no idea how many exceptional experiments is held by NASA, ESA and Canada. The experience improved our creativity but what is most important it has shown how much effort is made to send humans to space and how much it costs astronauts to work in space. As future avionics and pilots we are impressed how well people adapt to though conditions in space, and reading about space rendezvous made us realize about advanced technology used and amount of training made by pilots as well as flight control units. Taking part in such project make us feel a part of international community. We are grateful for having such opportunities to develop our selves and show ideas to other passionate.

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/veggie_fact_sheet_508.pdf

https://asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/sciences/food-production/growing-healthy-food-in-space-and-remote-areas.asp

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/the-shape-of-watering-plants-in-space

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/advanced-plant-habitat.pdf

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Research/Planting_oxygen

https://plantbasedandbroke.com/21-vegan-plant-based-foods-high-in-calories/

https://sensorex.com/blog/2019/10/29/hydroponic-systems-explained/

https://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/stem-on-station/ditl_eating

https://drive.tech/en/stream-content/the-docking-system-for-safe-space-rendevous

https://luv2garden.com/hydroponic_beans.html

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321474#15-best-vegan-proteins

https://futurism.com/aerogel-martian-farming

#Mars #deep_space_food #Ares

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