Browsing by Author "Patterson, R. Lane"
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
- Results Per Page
- Sort Options
Item Development of an Outreach and Teaching Module (LGH- OTM) Based On Prototype Lunar Greenhouse Program(44th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2014-07-13) Munday, Michael F.; Giacomelli, Gene; Yanes, Marianna; Patterson, R. LaneThe Lunar Greenhouse Outreach & Teaching Module (LGH-OTM) was developed by the Controlled Environment Agriculture Center of the University of Arizona (UA-CEAC), with its associates Hungry Planets Systems and Services (HPSS), Sadler Machine Company (SMC) and several site-specific organizations. A public education platform, the LGH-OTM served to advance the activities of the Arizona-NASA Ralph Steckler Space Colonization grant program, focused on outreach goals to present science, technology, education, food security and production, with educational exhibits and demonstrations. In display at high efficacy public education venues to achieve education outreach, media placement, and controlled environment agriculture training opportunities, the LGH-OTM was a more portable and tangible version of the prototype Lunar Greenhouse (LGH) installation at UA-CEAC. With written and video materials marshalled by HPSS and developed by CEAC staff, HPSS and site-specific professionals, the LGH-OTM was displayed at three sites in the USA, gaining a verified total audience of more than 2.5 million. The LGH program was based on more than a decade of installed research at and from the UA-CEAC, Systems and Industrial Engineering (UA-SIE) and Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering (UA-AME) in collaboration with SMC and many other partners, beginning with the South Pole Food Growth Chamber through Raytheon Polar Services Company and the National Science Foundation (NSF), and with continued sponsorship by NASA, NSF and various aerospace companies including Aero- Sekur SpA (Italy), Franco-Italian Thales Alenia Space, and AGC Green-Tech Co. (Japan). The LGH program, funded by NASA Steckler Phase 1 and 2 Space Grant, supported collaboration from a multidisciplinary and multinational team of experts to study and evaluate the scientific and technical merit and feasibility of the LGH as a Bioregenerative Life Support System. The LGH-OTM was constructed to demonstrate crop production within a BLSS-type physical environment with a hydroponic multi-cropping system that could produce crops (lettuce, strawberry, sweet potato, and tomato). It was a semi-autonomous food production device capable of automated climate control (air temperature, light, and hydroponic nutrient solution), and using labor for transplant and harvest it successfully demonstrated controlled environment and hydroponic crop production within a semi- portable educational setting. The system also included sensor and reports systems allowing for remote data collection. The presentation will focus on technical and communication accomplishments in design; materials of construction and display; operation; and educational programs of UA-CEAC and its partners about the LGH-OTM.Item Poly-Culture Food Production and Air Revitalization Mass and Energy Balances Measured in a Semi-Closed Lunar Greenhouse Prototype (LGH)(44th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2014-07-13) Patterson, R. Lane; Giacomelli, Gene A.; Hernandez, Erica; Yanes, Marianna; Jensen, TylerBioregenerative life-support (BLSS) studies were completed at the University of Arizona Controlled Environment Agriculture Center (UA-CEAC) with support by the Arizona NASA Ralph Steckler Phase II Space Grant. In cooperation with Sadler Machine Co. (USA) and international Italian collaborators, Thales Alenia Space Italia (TAS-I) and Aero-Sekur, SpA, and AGC Green-Tech Co. (Japan), a lightweight flexible cable culture hydroponic plant production system incorporated with an automated 23 m3, sealed, collapsible plant growth chamber was used to demonstrate polyculture production of food crops and air revitalization in a semi-closed Lunar Greenhouse Prototype (LGH). Mass and energy balances were measured and the flows of input resources (i.e. water, carbon dioxide, dry fertilizer salts, labor, electricity and heat) and output production (i.e. food, water condensate, oxygen and heat) were quantified for the purpose of demonstrating life support capability utilizing biological processes under controlled environments for human space applications.Item Prototype BLSS Lunar-Mars Habitat Design(44th International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2014-07-13) Sadler, Phil D.; Furfaro, Roberto; Patterson, R. LaneSadler Machine Company, working in collaboration with the University of Arizona Controlled Environment Agriculture Center, UA Aerospace/Mechanical Engineering School, and other NASA Steckler Space Grant partners, proposes a future Bioregenerative Life Support System (BLSS) oriented Mars Habitat. Initial human Mars surface exploration missions will most likely be of limited duration (~60 days) due to the narrow return window resulting from the roughly biennial Earth/Mars alignment. Once longer missions are undertaken, this same Earth/Mars biennial alignment will dictate missions of approximately ~500 days with crews spending over a year living on Martian surface. These initial “picnic missions” (~ 60 days) will rely almost exclusively on meals brought from Earth, utilize very small crew quarters, and be supported by physicochemical life support systems (PCLSS). Once the longer duration missions of ~500 plus days are undertaken, crop production in the habitat becomes feasible, which can augment the crew’s diets while recycling their water and revitalizing their atmosphere. BLSS works in concert with Physicochemical Life Support Systems (PCLSS) and adds another level of dissimilar system redundancy for crew life support safety while extending the PCLSS functional longevity. BLSS enables incorporation of ISRU of Mars’ carbon dioxide atmosphere, water, and sunlight into the mission to reduce dependency on stowed or resupplied food and water, and could help support a crew for an unintended extended mission duration. The habitats utilized for an extended presence on the lunar surface and the ~500 day Martian missions will most likely be of common design. Utilizing the earlier BLSS based UA/SMC Lunar Habitat design a comparison of the Lunar and Martian habitats challenges are explored.