Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Space Farming: Satellite's Greenhouses to Simulate Moon, Mars Gravity (launches this year)
http://www.space.com/35533-space-greenhouses-moon-mars-greenhouse.html
Space Farming: Satellite's Greenhouses to Simulate Moon, Mars Gravity
By Leonard David, Space.com's Space Insider Columnist | February 1, 2017
A satellite that's scheduled to launch later this year will conduct plant-growth experiments in both lunar and Martian gravity, as a way to help prepare for future human settlement of these worlds.
The Eu:CROPIS spacecraft will rotate around its own axis in low-Earth orbit, at an altitude of over 370 miles (600 kilometers). The satellite will initially produce the gravitational force of the moon on its inside for six months, and will then replicate Martian gravity for another six months.
During this time, tomato seeds will germinate and grow into small space tomatoes; 16 onboard cameras will document the plants' progress.
In addition, microorganisms that are contained in a trickle filter will use synthetic urine to produce fertilizer for the tomatoes. And Euglena microbes will produce oxygen for the system and supply it with protection against excess ammonia, Eu:CROPIS team members said.
<snip>
Space Farming: Satellite's Greenhouses to Simulate Moon, Mars Gravity
By Leonard David, Space.com's Space Insider Columnist | February 1, 2017
A satellite that's scheduled to launch later this year will conduct plant-growth experiments in both lunar and Martian gravity, as a way to help prepare for future human settlement of these worlds.
The Eu:CROPIS spacecraft will rotate around its own axis in low-Earth orbit, at an altitude of over 370 miles (600 kilometers). The satellite will initially produce the gravitational force of the moon on its inside for six months, and will then replicate Martian gravity for another six months.
During this time, tomato seeds will germinate and grow into small space tomatoes; 16 onboard cameras will document the plants' progress.
In addition, microorganisms that are contained in a trickle filter will use synthetic urine to produce fertilizer for the tomatoes. And Euglena microbes will produce oxygen for the system and supply it with protection against excess ammonia, Eu:CROPIS team members said.
<snip>