High-Level Project Summary
Human is tempted to explore the universe due to their curiosity and determinations. But there are limitations and homely environment. As the journey takes a long time to reach the destination, it may be a great idea to create a inter dependent system that support life. The challenge is to create a crop friendly environment that benefit astronaut’s mental health and physical health.so this space veggie garden would be an answer for the challenge. It can simulate crop friendly environment as on earth and its by- products can be re-utilized to life beyond earth.
Link to Project "Demo"
Link to Final Project
Detailed Project Description
According to CARA,APEX03-2 and PESTO experiments implies that gravity has a effect on plant gowning even though it is not as great as light and nutrients for a plant.
Answer for Gravity problem.
If we can create an inertial force that mimics the effects of gravitational force by rotation which makes a centrifugal force. It can create an artificial gravity.
(Note:-calculations and some of values that isn’t common, are only applicable for this model)
Attempts to cultivate in outer space is not new. Different experiments and models were studied. After careful mathematical calculations, A new idea that could eliminate the some shortcomings in previous attempts was developed. Artificial gravity could be developed as in following manner.
(side view)
Diagram of the system Plan.
SPACE VEGGIE GARDEN components
(Bottom view)
(Front view)
(Upside view)
Growth chamber:- plants are grown here. This enclosed chamber is the rotating part and it is encapsulated to environment of the vehicle. A special controlling device is attached to manipulate and regulate air composition the chamber as it is on the earth. The structure of this growth chamber is made of light weight, non-perishable, air impenetrable metal (eg:-Titanium) and a few layers of metal that prevent unfavorable radiation absorbing (eg: polyethylene). The crew members can have a look through one side of the growth chamber ,after remove the radiation shield on one side.
Environment control panel: - This part controls the environment in growth chamber. It can regulate air and humidity conditions in growth chamber using micro controllers. It is necessary to pre-programed controlling panel that is favorable to particular or each plant types.
Sensor unit: - High definition Cameras and sensors are integrated with lights (plant growing light bulbs and UV disinfection bulbs).Sensor details are sent to control unit.
Power distribution unit: - All the electric components are installed in this unit. All care is taken to minimize electricity consumption and generation of heat and failures.
Temperature controlling unit: - This part regulate the temperature in growth chamber. Thermo-electric cooling technology is used in here.
Filter unit: - This filters and separate air and vapor in growth chamber, using Nano technology in order to send to reserve tanks.
Reservoirs tanks: - Filtered N2, CO2, O2 and water are temporarily stored here until next use.
Nutrients mixing unit :-Nutrients unit balances and mixed up essential nutrients for with water that need for plants in one time. So, all the plant will grow under same nutrients level.
Reaction chamber :- Emitted CO2 by astronauts and H2 from Hydrolysis will be used to produce water for the space veggie garden and power.
How this space veggie garden (S.V.G) work
After plant seeds are placed on pillows in growth chamber. It is necessary to input details about favorable conditions for plants, to environment control Unit .then It will maintain environmental condition in growth chamber.
This system can be integrated with air and water transmission system of spacecraft. It can utilize CO2 generated by astronauts and compensate some O2 as in calculations.
Some examples are below to explain how changing environment is maintained by S.V.G.
When humidity is changed in growth chamber,
It will be identified by humidity sensors on Sensor unit. Then environment controlling panel will take decision logically according to the obtained details. If humidity decrease, then water will be sprayed into the growth chamber.
If humidity increase, then some part of air in growth chamber will be filtered by filter unit .after that air and water will be stored in reservoir tanks. Removed air from growth chamber will be utilized again.
When temperature is changed in growth chamber,
Change of temperature will be identified by sensors. When the temperature is higher than expected, intensity of lights will be reduced, while some amount of air in growth chamber would be take out and put to temperature controlling unit. Air will be cooled and again will be pushed into growth chamber.
When temperature is lower than usual, intensity of lights will be increased while the some potion of air in growth chamber would be taken out and put to temperature controlling unit. Air then will be warmed up and will be pushed into growth chamber.
When air composition changed in growth chamber,
N2,O2,CO2 and humidity sensors are looking at air composition in growth chamber. When it is changed(In this machine we give light as same in full day, so the O2 and CO2 levels are changed usually),air will be filtered and some part of it will be stored in reservoir tanks and some part will again push to growth chamber to balance the air composition.
Achievements of the system
Our main target of this system is to feed the crew member with fresh and nutrients foods. Plants that we cultivate here are enough for 2 months and 9 days. After we consumed full plant then we should again keep seeds with plant pillows. When we do this daily again and again food chain will not be end.
Another target of this system is to give the home feeling to astronauts (even they are in long duration exploration missions).
space veggie garden of this size can be used to cultivate foods for 6 astronauts to consume for 2 months and 9 days at a time.
Surface area in S.V.G = 2 x 3.14 x 100 x 150
= 94200 cm2
Surface area that need for a medium size plant = 225 cm2
Amount of plants that can be cultivated = 418
If we assume 2 of these plants are enough for a meal of 6 astronauts. 6 plants will be enough for a day.
So, the count that sown up will be enough for = 418 / 6 = 69.6 days
Therefore foods will be enough for 2 months and 9 days.
Benefits
1. System can work with low interaction of crew.
2. Only low amount of resources need.
3.How System can fulfill 136.8% daily oxygen consumption of an astronaut.
4.How this system can have active water loop.
Water vapors in growth chamber will be filtered and accumulated. The water that accumulated can be re-used for watering plants.
Even though system should accumulate 1330 ml of water from out. This amount is fulfilled by system itself.
5.How water is produced.
This process is done to make water for the plants and astronauts, using emitted CO2 of astronauts and H2.
This is how H2O is broken down to obtain O2 for astronauts.
Emitted H2 from above reaction is accumulated in reaction chamber and can be reacted with CO2 and create CH4 and H2O.
If H2O is only required, reactions will be stopped.CH4 that is made here will be emitted to the outer space .
Daily O2 consumption of 6 astronauts = 550 L x 6 = 3300 L
Approximately 147 moles of O2 in there, So while O2 is made 294 moles of H2 is released.
Daily CO2 emission of 6 astronauts = 578 L x 6 = 3468 L
Approximately 154.8 moles of CO2 is here, But we have only 147 moles of H2 to do 2nd reaction, therefore some amount of CO2 would be removed.
When 2nd reaction is done.2646 ml of water will be given by the system.
That amount is 198% of water that the system should accumulate from out. So, extra 1316 ml of water for astronauts.
6.How power can be generated.
This process only will be done, when some power(electricity) is in need. reactions are done also same as shown in up. H2O that generated in above 2nd reaction, again hydrolyzed. Then O2 that is released can be re-reacted with CH4 to create Co2 , H20 and energy as follows.
In here 823.2 L of CH4 is reacted.
1000 L of CH4 can produce 30 kWh.
So, the system can generate 24.969 kWh.
Addition to this 1323 ml of water will be also produced.
That amount is 99% of water that the system should accumulate from out.
The system can fulfill 100% of its water need while, it can generate 24.628 Kwh.
CO2 and H2 that made up here will re-use.
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Space Agency Data
the data from NASA and other space agencies were important to widen my knowledge and fulfill my curiosity and to face the challenge. I am also thankful the guidance, instruction and data given to me by NASA Space Apps Challenge.
Browsed experiments (CARA.APEX03-2 and PESTO) details were in NASA website and other related web .
Hackathon Journey
This study was carried out with in my individual capacity while studying for general certificate of education advanced – level in Sri Lanka. The challenge made me to study and explore lot of literature from NASA and other web sources and looked into the weaknesses and to find solution to them through mathematical concepts. This is not the end but it is the beginning for me as I am interested in to think further. I am interested further to widen my knowledge in this area as it is enjoyable.
References
https://www.nasa.gov/content/growing-plants-in-space
https://global.jaxa.jp/article/special/kibo/takahashi_e.html
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41526-020-00130-8
https://theconversation.com/taking-plants-off-planet-how-do-they-grow-in-zero-gravity-45032
https://www.nature.com/articles/npjmgrav201523
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1020
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=1017
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/Seven-Ways-the-ISS-Helps-Study-Plant-Growth
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/experiments/explorer/Investigation.html?#id=215
http://www.fao.org/3/s2022e/s2022e02.htm
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/veg-03-plant-pillows-readied-at-kennedy-space-center-for-trip-to-space-station
https://www.lpi.usra.edu/lunar/strategies/CucinottaEtAl_NASA%20TM-2012-217361.pdf
Tags
#Science #Astronomy #Space travel # Artificial Gravity #Cultivation #Automatic system
Global Judging
This project has been submitted for consideration during the Judging process.