As long as we are talking specialized lighting, why not a specialized
atmosphere? One of the limiting factors of plant growth is that they
run short of CO2 while running at peak photosynthesis. So why not an
atmosphere (separate from the living areas, of course, but that's
pretty much a given if we're using weird lighting schemes) with a
higher-than-natural concentration of CO2? Also, of course, the soil
or hydroponics could be kept at high nutrient levels.

Flowers and trees (and chirping birds and basket weavers who sit and
smile and... sorry) and grass and such in the living areas would have
to be satisfied with more ordinary lighting conditions, but hey, stuff
on Earth grows under more ordinary lighting conditions.

I truly think that one of the industries of the early habitats will be
providing food for the various bases and space stations and space
hotels which have too little room to do it themselves. Importing food
from Island One will be cheaper than importing food from Earth.

On Nov 03, 2007, at 03:16 UTC, Xenophile wrote:

> As long as we are talking specialized lighting, why not a specialized
> atmosphere? One of the limiting factors of plant growth is that they
> run short of CO2 while running at peak photosynthesis. So why not an
> atmosphere (separate from the living areas, of course, but that's
> pretty much a given if we're using weird lighting schemes) with a
> higher-than-natural concentration of CO2?

It's not an outrageous idea, but I'd prefer an atmosphere that won't
kill people who get caught out in it without their gear. I'm not sure
what limit that places on the CO2 concentration -- higher than
Earth-normal, I'm sure, but perhaps not a lot higher.

> I truly think that one of the industries of the early habitats will be
> providing food for the various bases and space stations and space
> hotels which have too little room to do it themselves. Importing food
> from Island One will be cheaper than importing food from Earth.

Quite true, though you don't really need a whole space colony -- I
imagine there will be dedicated agricultural stations first, perhaps
selling fresh food to the don't-call-the-hotels Bigelow space stations.

Cheers,
- Joe

Joe Strout
Inspiring Applications, Inc.
http://www.InspiringApps.com

I suspect Agriculture will become a major industry off planet for
feeding population as well as tourists and people who operate mining
colonies and power stations and such not to mention space craft
exploring further out. But they'll be needing more than just food.

Don't forget Cotton, Hemp and Linnen. Colonists will also need
cloths. And they will also need medicines.

Since Island One is a continuous ring, and there will be animals
being raised in there as well, I suppose special clear 'tents'
similar to those used by exterminators to eradicate pests from homes
might be used to achieve this end. Otherwise I suppose special
hoses might be employed to deliver the CO2 to plants as they are
employed to water them.

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, "Xenophile"
>
> As long as we are talking specialized lighting, why not a
specialized
> atmosphere? One of the limiting factors of plant growth is that
they
> run short of CO2 while running at peak photosynthesis. So why not
an
> atmosphere (separate from the living areas, of course, but that's
> pretty much a given if we're using weird lighting schemes) with a
> higher-than-natural concentration of CO2? Also, of course, the soil
> or hydroponics could be kept at high nutrient levels.
>
> Flowers and trees (and chirping birds and basket weavers who sit and
> smile and... sorry) and grass and such in the living areas would
have
> to be satisfied with more ordinary lighting conditions, but hey,
stuff
> on Earth grows under more ordinary lighting conditions.
>
> I truly think that one of the industries of the early habitats will
be
> providing food for the various bases and space stations and space
> hotels which have too little room to do it themselves. Importing
food

Good point. Agriculture is more than food. Yes, you CAN wear beta-
cloth and rayon and nylon and special chain mail stuff (I'd bet we're
THIS CLOSE to being able to print clothing made of these materials
with a modified ink jet printer... they seem to be able to do
everything else). But there will be a market for cotton, hemp, silk,
linen, and who knows, maybe leather.

Which brings us to the animals. Oops, I forgot about them. But then
again, why not have the animals on one deck and the plants on
another? The animals can have whatever atmosphere is best for them,
and the plants can have whatever is best for them.

Now, about the whole can people survive there thing... yeah, it needs
to be something that doesn't strike a farmer dead if his oxygen mask
fails. Then again, I'm sure a vac-worker would consider that a pretty
wimpy demand. So how about: something a person can survive and move
about in for fifteen or thirty minutes?

1. Rayon, otherwise known as wood silk, is made from a base of wood,
peanut shells or ruined cotton.

Indeed, the Peanut is such a versitile crop with over two hundred
uses that go much beyond food, it will undoubtedly become a staple of
Space Island agriculture.

2, Carbon Dioxide being a heavier than air gas would certainly be
good for deploying at the bottom of a valley for feeding plants.
Animals could be kept at a higher level in relative safety. Plants at
higher levels can have small suppliments sprayed among them by hose.
And carbon dioxide does not have to be deployed constantly. One can
shut off the valves at any time without harming plants when human
workers come out. As for protections. Gas masks and standard gas
monitors to alert people of CO2 levels should be sufficient.

3. Another crop might be bamboo for construction and furnature. It is
very versitile. And I suspect there will be Christmas tree farms as
well since the trees can be recycled in various ways. Mulch. Or into
some of the new synthetic woods I've been seeing at Home Depot and
various other type stores.

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, "Xenophile"
>
> Good point. Agriculture is more than food. Yes, you CAN wear beta-
> cloth and rayon and nylon and special chain mail stuff (I'd bet
we're
> THIS CLOSE to being able to print clothing made of these materials
> with a modified ink jet printer... they seem to be able to do
> everything else). But there will be a market for cotton, hemp,
silk,
> linen, and who knows, maybe leather.
>
> Which brings us to the animals. Oops, I forgot about them. But
then
> again, why not have the animals on one deck and the plants on
> another? The animals can have whatever atmosphere is best for
them,
> and the plants can have whatever is best for them.
>
> Now, about the whole can people survive there thing... yeah, it
needs
> to be something that doesn't strike a farmer dead if his oxygen
mask
> fails. Then again, I'm sure a vac-worker would consider that a
pretty
> wimpy demand. So how about: something a person can survive and
move