Poly-Culture Food Production and Air Revitalization Mass and Energy Balances Measured in a Semi-Closed Lunar Greenhouse Prototype (LGH)
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Bioregenerative 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.
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R. Lane Patterson, Green Sense Farms, USA
Gene A. Giacomelli, Controlled Environment Agriculture Center, The University of Arizona, USA
Erica Hernandez, Controlled Environment Agriculture Center, The University of Arizona, USA
Marianna Yanes, Controlled Environment Agriculture Center, The University of Arizona, USA
Tyler Jensen, Controlled Environment Agriculture Center, The University of Arizona, USA
The 44th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Tuscon, Arizona, USA on 13 July 2014 through 17 July 2014.