NASA Space Apps Challenge – Have seeds will grow

Growing Green Space Engineers

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2nd & 3rd October 2021

Team members

Jacob Clark and Shivangi V,Joshi

TRI-STAGE INFLATE-A-FARM

Problem

The root or the issue, is that the nutrients in the prepared package foods degrade overtime (NASA 2021). On missions planned for over 2-3 years, the nutrient degradation can lead to malnutrition among the crew. Being able to produce fresh food on site is a great work around to the problem. Growing fresh food in micro-gravity has been feasibly proven by NASA (2017). However, the current system is bulky and not needed at the start of the space flight. 

Background

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Crewed space missions of 2-3 years requires a volume efficient and controlled agriculture system that functions in micro and partial gravity.

Stage 2 State with astronaut access

Summary of design

An initial stowable compressed state (Stage 1), seeds are stored separate from the unit. As space used up for the pre-packaged food becomes available, the structure inflates to a restraint to begin growing in zero gravity (Stage 2). When the mission lands on a planetoid, the structure restraints are released to increase production further (Stage 3).

A hydroponics agriculture system that inflates the framework to fill available space and transforms to meet the needs of the environment. After consideration, a collapsible system that is stored and deployed as needed was chosen. Our proposed solution is one that inflates beams to make a structure, such as in Inflatable Technology: using flexible materials to make large structures  (Douglas, 2019) but on a smaller scale. As volume becomes available and conditions change, we can inflate system to use the space and transform to match location, making enough food for 4 Astronauts.

Solution

Mission and Stage Deployment

Stage 1

• Storage
• Compressed form when loaded into craft

Stage 2

• Partial inflation of system
• Initial growing area
• Zero Gravity

Stage 3

• Fully inflated
• Maximum growing area
• In partial Gravity

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Stage 1 (optional or direct Stage 2)

Stage 2

Assumed Mission Cycle

Mars

Earth

Stage 1 : Stored State

Stage 2 Locks

Compressor

Compressed/ Deflated Growth Chamber

Controller

Water Reserve

CO2 Bottles and Regulation

Air Filter

Heat Exchanger

WRADS

Description:

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Smallest possible volume

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Controller uses most of the parts from the APH (NASA 2017). In addition are:

• air compressor to provide pressure for inflation
• heat exchanger to cycle heat from controller and regulate temperature in the chamber
• Condenser to collect evaporated water in air

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The growing chamber is collapsed, possibly vacuumed tight by the controller compressor.

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A cap that holds in stage 2 is at the end

FID

Camera

Condenser

O2 sensor

STAGE 1 TRANSFORM TO STAGE 2

Description:

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Air fills the collapsed columns to create the chamber. The stage 2 cap prevents the inflation of the chamber we don’t want yet. Loose tarp, water lines, and string are stretched taut between the inflated beams

Pressurizing

Inflated Structure Columns

Tarp Covering

Stage 2: Microgravity Craft Released Growing “BED”

Controller

Stage 2 Locks/Cap

Pressurized Frame

Water & Nutrient Exchange Capillaries

Hot Water Heater Tubes

Description:

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Seed Pillows (NASA 2020) are inserted into a weave of structural lines, perforated water capillaries (Logan, Ryan and Mark, 2020), and sealed heat exchanging tube lines

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Keep out area designated to for hand access and prevent plants from growing into each other

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Water lines are used to maintain chamber temperature and cycles through control unit to capture and reuse heat

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Capillaries deliver nutrients and water for a hydroponic type agriculture

Structural lines to Insert Seed pillows

Keep Out Area

Environmental sensors are distributed on

Single Wall/Growing Bed

There are four growing beds to supplement four astronaut diets.

Stage 2: Microgravity Craft Released Air Cycle

Controller

Stage 2 Locks/Cap

Craft Air Intake

Internal Air Intake

Center Beam Pressurized Frame

Pressurized Frame

“New” Air

Compressed air

LEDS

LEDS

Water & Nutrient Exchange Capillaries

Hot Water Heater Tubes

Zip Line Sealed Area

Description:

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Pressurized frames created pushes the growing area into a cuboid shape. 1 growing side per Astronaut (so up to 4). A center column holds the LEDs for light and growth direction. Air is cycled through the columns, entering the columns on the far side and vacuumed back into the controller.

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Condenser captures water in the air from plant respiration

MID Section slice

Stage 2: Microgravity Craft Released (CONT.)

Description:

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Controller is available for access on the end

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Each side is accessed by rotating the device and unzipping the zip seal

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Loops are placed externally to secure on to the craft

Controller

Control Access

Zip Seal Access

Stage 2 transform to Stage 3

Controller

Controller

Controller

Controller

STAGE 2 CAP

REMOVE CAP

FLEXING JOINTS

Description:

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The Stage 2 cap is removed/released, and the compressor expands the remaining available air chambers

LED ARCH

Stage 3: Partial Gravity

Controller

Stage 2 Growing beds

Stage 3 Growing beds

Top Down

Controller

Side View

LED ARCH

Perimeter held previously by cap

Description:

For deployment on a planetoid, most likely in a habitat. The structural cap is removed, and air expands the perimeter to flatten the cuboid (stage 2 shape). The led support structure arches over head. Increased area of growing beds to support the astronaut diet and provide surplus for dehydration on the return trip.

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Pressurized Air Frame

Assumptions

• Enough space for the system
• Nutritional content for 1 astronaut will be supplied through one growing area
• Growing area determined by planned plant and supplement schedule
• Stage 3 growing bed area will supply 3200 calories per astronaut (Canadian Space Agency, 2019) and surplus
• Initial volume to be only slightly larger than that of the APH control system
• APH components have been vetted

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Future Application and System Interaction

• Possibility of protein growth – growing beans such as soybeans and dry beans.
• We are also looking at growing fruits in the future too. A combination of fresh and dried/dehydrated fruits. Whilst fruit is grown, astronauts can have the fresh produce when ready and any ‘excess’ can be dehydrated. Including a set up where we can collect water that is being released from the dehydration process. Since fruits end up having on 15%-20% water content left (EPA 1995), this will be a good source of water (even though it may not be a lot) to then reuse. It will be very useful to have dried fruits as they contain micronutrients, fibre and antioxidants which is limited on board through pre-packaged food.
• Additional configurations for 5-8 growing beds
• Optimization of capillary delivery systems
• System ports to synchronize with those available on a craft

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Personal thoughts of the Space Apps Challenge

We thoroughly enjoyed our first, of what we hope to be more, hackathon. Our team of 2 found it tough but exciting, trying to complete everything in the allocated time space. Multiple ideas were proposed, discussed, researched and ranked. Accumulating in a solution that is flexible, compact, and a feasible way to answer the challenge. We have high confidence that our proposal could work and would very much like to prototype it ourselves. Provided we were given more time we know there are details we can refine, data we could collect and configurations we could explore.

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Reference Slide

Douglas A Litteken (2019) Inflatable Technology: Using Flexible Materials to Make Large Structures. NASA Johnson Space Center. Available at https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20190001443/downloads/20190001443.pdf (Accessed: 2 October 2021)

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration (2017) Advanced Plant Habitat Available at: https://www.nasa.gov (Accessed: 2 October 2021)

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration (2020) Veggie Available at: https://www.nasa.gov (Accessed: 2 October 2021)

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National Aeronautics and Space Administration (2017) How Does Your Space Garden Grow? Available at: https://www.nasa.gov (Accessed: 3 October 2021)

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Canadian Space Agency (2019) Eating in Space Available at: https://asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/sciences/food-production/eating-in-space.asp (Accessed: 2 October 2021)

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Reference Slide

Logan J. Torres, Ryan Jenson and Mark Weislogel (2020) “Capillary Hydroponic Plant Watering System for Space” International Conference on Environmental Systems, ICES-2020-172. (Accessed: 3 October 2021)

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United States Environment Protect Agency (1995) ‘Dehydrated Fruits and Vegetables’ in AP 42, Fifth Edition, Volume I Chapter 9: Food and Agricultural Industries. Available at: https://www3.epa.gov/ttn/chief/ap42/ch09/index.html (Accessed: 3 October 2021)

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NASA (2021) Have Seeds Will Travel https://2021.spaceappschallenge.org/challenges/statements/have-seeds-will-travel/details (Accessed: 1 October 2021)

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Acknowledgments

Amanda Baker

Dwain Reid

Dr Sing H Lo

Dr Martha E Mador

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For pointing us in the right direction.