High-Level Project Summary
An airtight container that can germinate and grow vegetables. This solution is only viable for plants like microgreens as this solution does not required soil medium. Vitamins are important in our diet because it keeps the body functioning properly. Microgreens are easy to care and grow without worrying much about the environment condition. Microgreens can solve the lack of vitamins the crew needed as it is full of nutrients such as vitamin C, D and K.
Link to Project "Demo"
Link to Final Project
Detailed Project Description
In this project, an airtight square shaped container is used to grow plants. The container will be layered with moist paper towel as a food source and covered in bubble wrap which will act as an insulator. A rectangular solar cell LED light will be used as light source if needed and is placed on top of the container. The seeds will be placed on top of the moist paper towel and is spaced between each other. The container will be placed in a dark environment to germinate for about a week. Then, the container is placed in a well lit environment so that it can continue to grow until harvest. The paper towel should always remains moist.
Growing microgreens in space can help with vitamin replenishment that is needed. It is easy to grow because it can be grown in a cold temperature as low as 15 degree Celsius, the whole plant is edible and does not require soil. This is a simple method to produce food in a small space without much materials. If the containers are no longer in used, it can be easily kept away or use it to store other items.
I hope that this project is able to help the crews to be able to produce food in their space journey and have fun in growing and harvesting the produce.
Space Agency Data
In this project, I used the NASA resources on Growing Plants in Space and Veggie Fact Sheet.
I read about the equipment used in the ISS on how the crew grow different types of vegetables and flowers by using Veggie and Advanced Plant Habitat (APH). It described on how the equipment functions in space.
I read more extensively on Veggie by reading the Veggie Fact Sheet. It explains how equipment extensively by how to transport the seeds and care for it. Different types of vegetables were tried to grow and was successful.
From these information, I understand what kind of condition is needed to nurture the vegetables growth and how the crew control the environment to suit the plant. The crew uses LED light of magenta pink because plant needed red and blue wavelength. I also noticed how the case for the plant to grow is insulated to control the temperature for the plant.
From there, I also considered on the environment plants needed to grow smoothly and what kind of material is needed to produce this environment.
Hackathon Journey
It was a good experience. I learned a lot as to what kind of equipment used in space to produce food. My team decided to choose this challenge is because we feel comfortable on this topic and we do not have much knowledge in coding. We approach this project by thinking what does a plant need to survive in a different environment and what kind of plants would be suitable. We discussed in a calmly manner to understand each other view on the matter so we can understand where the conflict stem from. My team and I would like to thank our mother for encouraging to join when we lack the courage to do so.
References
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/veggie_fact_sheet_508.pdf
https://www.nasa.gov/content/growing-plants-in-space
https://www.centrum.com/learn/why-are-vitamins-important/
https://morningchores.com/easiest-vegetables-to-grow/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/leafy-green-vegetables#TOC_TITLE_HDR_3
https://grocycle.com/growing-microgreens-on-paper-towels/
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/sep/26/eat-shoots-and-small-leaves-how-to-grow-microgreens-in-winter
https://unsplash.com/photos/vrbZVyX2k4I?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditShareLink
Tags
#plant #food #seed