[Prototype of space vitamin greenhouse "Phytoconveyor"]
Aviakosmicheskaia I Ekologicheskaia Meditsina = Aerospace and Environmental Medicine
|August 5, 2008
Summary
The Phytoconveyor greenhouse system enables fresh greens production on the International Space Station, supporting long-duration space missions. This system is highly productive and energy-efficient, minimizing crew time and resources.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical engineering
- Space agriculture
- Life support systems
Context:
- Long-duration space missions require sustainable food sources.
- Biological regeneration of food is crucial for crew health and psychological well-being.
- The International Space Station (ISS) serves as a testbed for advanced space technologies.
Purpose:
- To introduce the Phytoconveyor, a highly productive and energy-efficient cylindrical salad greenhouse.
- To detail the design features and operational capabilities of the Phytoconveyor for space applications.
- To assess the potential of the Phytoconveyor for supplementing space rations and supporting crew needs.
Summary:
- The Phytoconveyor greenhouse (540x590x400 mm) utilizes a 0.09 m³ plant chamber with six root modules and a 0.4 m² illuminated crop area.
- It employs red (660 nm) and blue (470 nm) LEDs, providing a photon flux density of 350 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹.
- Features include a fiber substrate with ion-exchange resins, a programmable reverse watering system, and a 24-hr light period, yielding 300g of greens every 4-5 days.
Impact:
- The Phytoconveyor represents a significant advancement in in-space food production.
- It offers a resource-efficient solution for fresh greens, crucial for crewed missions to Mars.
- The system's design considers the resource limitations of the ISS Russian orbital segment.
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