OrbHab Paper
New Frontiers in Food Production Beyond LEO (2019)
ID: 405 Flag Paper
Title: New Frontiers in Food Production Beyond LEO
Authors: O. Monje, M. Nugent, M. Hummerick, T. Dreschel, L. Spencer, M. Romeyn, G. Massa, R. Wheeler, and R. Fritsche
Journal Name: 2019, International Conference on Environmental Systems
Year of Publication: 2019
Page Number:
Category: biosphere
Availability: pdf
Detail Page: /papers/405
Web Link: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20190027339/downloads/20190027339.pdf
BoK Link: [[paper:405]]
Abstract
New technologies will be needed as mankind moves towards exploration of cislunar space,the Moon and Mars. Although many advances in our understanding of the effects ofspaceflight on plant growth have been achieved in the last 40 years, spaceflight plant growthsystems have been primarily designed to support space biology studies. Recently, the need fora sustainable and robust food system for future missions beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) hasidentified gaps in current technologies for food production. The goal is to develop safe andsustainable food production systems with reduced resupply mass and crew time compared tocurrent systems. New soilless water and nutrient delivery systems are needed to avoid constantresupply of bulky single-use porous media. Autonomous plant health and food safetymonitoring systems are needed to ensure that the food produced is suitable for supplementingcrew diets with fresh and nutritious salad crops. Newly identified plant species and cultivarswith improved contents of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals are needed for growth underthe elevated CO2 concentrations found in spacecraft. These improvements in food productiontechnologies will enable the design of sustainable life support systems for manned explorationmissions beyond Low Earth Orbit.
Title: New Frontiers in Food Production Beyond LEO
Authors: O. Monje, M. Nugent, M. Hummerick, T. Dreschel, L. Spencer, M. Romeyn, G. Massa, R. Wheeler, and R. Fritsche
Journal Name: 2019, International Conference on Environmental Systems
Year of Publication: 2019
Page Number:
Category: biosphere
Availability: pdf
Detail Page: /papers/405
Web Link: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20190027339/downloads/20190027339.pdf
BoK Link: [[paper:405]]
Abstract
New technologies will be needed as mankind moves towards exploration of cislunar space,the Moon and Mars. Although many advances in our understanding of the effects ofspaceflight on plant growth have been achieved in the last 40 years, spaceflight plant growthsystems have been primarily designed to support space biology studies. Recently, the need fora sustainable and robust food system for future missions beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) hasidentified gaps in current technologies for food production. The goal is to develop safe andsustainable food production systems with reduced resupply mass and crew time compared tocurrent systems. New soilless water and nutrient delivery systems are needed to avoid constantresupply of bulky single-use porous media. Autonomous plant health and food safetymonitoring systems are needed to ensure that the food produced is suitable for supplementingcrew diets with fresh and nutritious salad crops. Newly identified plant species and cultivarswith improved contents of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals are needed for growth underthe elevated CO2 concentrations found in spacecraft. These improvements in food productiontechnologies will enable the design of sustainable life support systems for manned explorationmissions beyond Low Earth Orbit.