High-Level Project Summary
Nowadays, there is no fresh food in the astronauts' diet, causing astronauts to have micronutrient deficiencies, mainly vitamin A, D, K, C, B1, B6, calcium, and potassium. Therefore, we propose a diet based on microgreens, sprouts, and semi-perennial fruits that offer an opportunity to provide micronutrients for space missions. Further using vertical precision agriculture, it will farm organic seeds and especially Andes seeds because of its high-quality nutrientilies. Moreover, Andean seeds are naturally resistant to abiotic or biotic stress, also the system optimizes resources.
Link to Project "Demo"
Link to Final Project
Detailed Project Description
We want to provide high nutritional micro-vegetables optimizing resources (space, water, and electricity), and performance. Perennial fruit trees of the Rosaceae family will be adapted to this farming system. In addition, the vegetables to be grown have a high content of micronutrients that are essential for the proper functioning of the human body, and the production time is short compared to conventional vegetables.
Our system will allow us to fully monitor and automate aspects such as weather, lighting, irrigation, pH level, electrical conductivity (EC) level, and nutrient dosing while constantly checking substrate humidity and temperature using a programmable logic controller. The operator will be able to monitor and analyze the climatic variables and the status of the devices in real-time thanks. This screen will present the data to the operator and he could control all the processes. Besides, the lighting system is LED with variable light intensity to stimulate the photosynthesis process and the growth of micro-vegetables. The system will have an electrical panel to turn it off, which will be carried out when maintenance is required. The waste generated by the cultivation system, which will be mainly the roots, will be treated with a high-temperature thermal reactor which breaks down the waste into water, oxygen, and other gases that the crew can use or ventilate as needed, thereby reducing any biohazard that may arise.
We use LabVIEW software that implements graphic programming or G language to create programs based on block diagrams. LabView includes specific libraries for data acquisition, VXI and GPIB instrumentation control, serial communication, presentation analysis, and data saving.
Generating food onboard a space mission gives us a connection with our terrestrial environment. One advantage of our proposal is that we are using Andean seeds which have unique nutritional qualities and are resistant to abiotic and biotic stress. Besides, it can be a complement to any main diet. Due to the great variety of vegetables that we are proposing, it covers the nutritional needs that a human being must consume daily, it also helps to counteract the psychological effects that long-term space missions reveal.
On the other hand, although vegetables do not have a long time of conservation in the air, we have solved this problem by designing a production system that generates only the amount of vegetables necessary for the daily consumption of the astronauts during the entire mission. In addition, since these vegetables will be consumed immediately, it is not necessary to use chemical compounds, such as preservatives or preservatives, which can be harmful to the organisms.
Space Agency Data
NASA increasingly develops new smaller and more efficient solar panels that are used on the International Space Station as the new deployable solar panels which can be used for crops in space missions.
For the implementation of food production technology in areas of lack of electrical energy service, it is necessary to know the amount of solar radiation that falls on a terrestrial surface known as irradiance (W / m2). For this reason, we will implement a photovoltaic system that supplies electrical energy to the entire cultivation system in regions with good insulation (kWh / m2) and great thermal amplitude being environmentally friendly.
NASA's solar energy database will allow us to analyze the feasibility of implementing solar panels based on the energy demand of the cultivation system. This will allow us to carry out an irradiance study together with other meteorological parameters, such as ambient temperature and wind speed.
In addition, Space Apps provided us with scientific articles related to space agriculture that have been tested and validated on the International Space Station which was used as a guide for the development of an innovative proposal for a food system.
NASA POWER | Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/new-solar-arrays-to-power-nasa-s-international-space-station-research
Hackathon Journey
The experience in Space Apps has allowed our group to learn about the different problems of space exploration being one of the most important the development of a food system that allows human survival in space. The formation of a multidisciplinary team, such as RunSpace, facilitated the creation of a proposal that will not only be useful in long-term space missions but can also be replicated on Earth.
Because Ecuador does not have a scientific culture, participating in this type of event allows us to expand our knowledge and network of contacts in science. It will also allow us to demonstrate the potential of native indigenous team members who have historically been excluded and made invisible in all areas. With our participation, we seek to inspire native indigenous children and youth people of Ecuador to get involved in science, since science and technology have been the basis for the development of a society.
RunSpace aims to use the developed technology in communities in Ecuador where do not have easy access to basic services, especially electricity and drinking water. In this way, small producers will benefit and could increase their income. At the same time, they will provide fresh and nutritious food that will decrease child malnutrition.
To solve this challenge, RunaSpace works as a team by contributing ideas from each of the members depending on their area of expertise. This allowed us to learn from others through constructive and positive feedback. In the end, an adequate synergy was generated which will allow us to continue developing research and projects in the future. Thanks to the active participation of each of the members, the objective of obtaining a solid proposal were achieved.
Finally, we would like to thank the farmers of our communities who have inspired us to develop new agricultural techniques that combine our ancestral knowledge with science and technology.
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Tags
#microgreens #foodspace #astronauts #earth #spaceexploration #AndeanSeeds #seeds
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