PlanTED

Corum | Have seeds will travel!

Eco-Stellar Crop System

High-Level Project Summary

As the challenge demands us to develop a durable plant habitat for long space travels, we worked on innovating the current plant system to be better and more sustainable. We have developed a self-sufficient mini ecosystem containing all the components that the plant needs. We have added innovations to this system to make it easier and faster to grow plants in space. In this way, it is suitable for the system to be sustainable and durable and meet the necessary nutritional needs in long space travel. We believe this project is vital because the health and diet of the crew on long space voyages are essential. With the system we have developed, this need will be met easily and quickly.

Link to Project "Demo"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_FH0i1-5Ok

Link to Final Project

https://spaceappsplanted.co/index.html

Detailed Project Description

We have concluded that the subject we want to highlight in our project is diversifying agriculture with bio bacteria varieties. Our research focused on providing a urine purification system to evaluate and recycle urine, which is one of the largest wastes in space.
First, we started our research on electroactive bacteria that can produce energy and purify water to save energy. We discovered Nitrosomonas ureae bacteria during our study, which can separate ammonia in urea, and integrated it into our project. We developed a filter to transfer the compound we obtained into the large tank where the electroactive bacteria habitat is located by adding the Nitrosomonas bacteria into the urine tank.
Urine was transferred to the biofilter, which contains nitrosomonas bacteria, and ammonia was converted to nitrite and nitrate. then the resulting solution was taken to the main tank and sent to the plant roots.
After the filtration process is completed and the resulting purified water is given to the main tank, the compound formed is sent where the existing hydroponic system above starts by providing air with an air pump. By delivering oxygen support to the roots of the spinach plant, which we have chosen considering the dietary needs of the astronauts, the habitat of Nitrosomonas bacteria that may be attached to the roots is preserved.
Purple light, which has the highest photosynthetic efficiency, was considered as the lighting system. However, as a result of our research, we realized that by using the RGB light system, we could have achieved both high-efficiency photosynthesis and the complementary effect that we can obtain from green light at the same time.
For our sediment-free filter system, which we intend to provide with electroactive bacteria, we have thought of placing conductive petroleum waste, which contains electrons, at the bottom of the main tank, where the bacteria can feed. Using petroleum waste, we planned to establish a system that would prevent waste generation and save energy.
Thanks to the air pump placed in the main tank, we aimed to keep the water constantly fresh. In addition, we ensured that the system with the humidity meter and temperature sensor, which is thought to be in the main tank, is kept under observation 24/7.
Chemical reactions used during the process:

*CH4N2O (Urea)+ Urease containing bacteria --> NH3 (Ammonia) + CO2 (Carbondioxide)

*NH3 (Ammonia) + Ammonia oxidizing bacteria --> NH2OH (Hydroxylamine)

*NH2OH (Hydroxylamine) + Ammonia oxidizing bacteria --> NO2¯ (Nitrite)

*NO2¯ (Nitrite) + Nitrite oxidizng bacteria --> NO3¯ (Nitrate)

In order to keep our system stable at 22-24 degrees and to keep the temperature-humidity relationship under control, we have designed a system with a lid that can be opened only in case of a possible technical failure and to collect the plants. We added a heater to the top of the system to minimize the heat loss that may occur when the lid is opened. This way, we can keep both humidity and temperature under control, while also having access to plants. We have installed a glass system containing barium and lead in our system to protect plants from radiation. We also provided our electricity with solar panels, a system that is already used in spacecraft.

What tools we use

We used "MSPaint" to draw the prototype on a tablet.
We used "MSPowerPoint" to make our slides.
We used "Canva" to make a template for our .pptx document.
We used "Cool Edit Pro 2.1" to record our voice.
we used "Sony Vegas Pro 15" to edit the video.

Our project website: https://spaceappsplanted.co/index.html

Our slide: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/13f_l75tya0vvNhawI-Cb9CVml_NC0efG/

Space Agency Data

By watching this video that NASA shared with us, we got more detailed information about the challenge and learned about the background of the challenge. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM3uaR0dltQ&list=PL37Yhb2zout05pUjr7OoRFpTNroq_wd9f&index=9)
Based on these resources that NASA shared with us, we obtained more concrete examples of plant cultivation. (https://www.nasa.gov/content/growing-plants-in-space),(https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/veggie_fact_sheet_508.pdf), (https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/advanced-plant-habitat.pdf)

Hackathon Journey

Our space applications experience was a fun and educational journey. We improved our teamwork, cooperation and research skills. We decided to work on growing plants in space to provide astronauts with a more comfortable space travel. We showed a curious, willing, determined and faithful approach. We did not despair when we had difficulties in some places. We solved our setbacks in this project with cooperation and help from experts.

*Ali Salur: Academician at Hitit University

*Faruk Maraşlıoğlu: Head of Biology Department at Hitit University

*Aydın Güngör: Founder of Serakule

*Prof. Dr. Sadık Kakaç: Head of mechanical engineering department at TOBB University

*İdris Albayrak: NASA Mars trainer, futurist

*Taha Tunahan Okşaş: Electric-Electronic Engineer

*Alexander Gaston Litvin: Lead scientist, Crop Development Sensei

*Mustafa Şahinbaş: Chemistry teacher at TED Çorum Collage

We thank them for sharing their knowledge with us.

References

NASA Resources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM3uaR0dltQ&list=PL37Yhb2zout05pUjr7OoRFpTNroq_wd9f&index=9

https://www.nasa.gov/content/growing-plants-in-space

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

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

CSA Resources:

https://asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/sciences/food-production/default.asp

Others:

https://arastirma.tarimorman.gov.tr/elazigsuurunleri/Belgeler/S%C3%9CRD%C3%9CR%C3%9CLEB%C4%B0L%C4%B0R%20ALABALIK%20YET%C4%B0%C5%9ET%C4%B0R%C4%B0C%C4%B0L%C4%B0%C4%9E%C4%B0%20%C3%87ALI%C5%9ETAYI%20(12.04.2016)/2-Su%20%C3%9Cr%C3%BCnleri%20Yeti%C5%9Ftiricili%C4%9Finde%20Akuaponik%20Yeti%C5%9Ftiricilik.pdf

https://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Nitrosomonas

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/lsm.1058

https://iksadyayinevi.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Saglikli-Bir-Gelecek-Icin-Aquaponik-Sistemler-2.pdf

https://web.archive.org/web/20170808165122id_/http://rubisco.ugr.es/fisiofar/pagwebinmalcb/contenidos/Tema11/macroymicronutrient.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=4tEWJEbgftc

https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/Faculty/davies/research/abstracts/pdfs/IPPS-2003-53-NASA.pdf

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods/spinach

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroponics

https://www.inside.iastate.edu/article/2018/04/12/space

https://www.purdue.edu/hla/sites/cea/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2017/04/Nutrition-and-Light-Requirement-of-Lettuce.pdf

https://wikifarmer.com/how-to-grow-spinach-from-seeding-to-harvesting/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-gaston-litvin-589bb98

https://journals.ashs.org/hortsci/downloadpdf/journals/hortsci/36/2/article-p380.xml

https://journals.ashs.org/hortsci/downloadpdf/journals/hortsci/27/11/article-p1183.xml

https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/opag-2017-0002/pdf

https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11356-020-10461-4.pdf