Invention:
This technology allows for the growth of plants in zero-gravity or microgravity environments. The invention solves the problem of directing water and nutrients to plant roots by incorporating liquid and nutrient emitters that allow for the efficient and effective flow of the water into the system. The design, which is suitable for small growth chambers and large-scale crop production, then uses air emitters to move the water and nutrients in the appropriate direction(s).
Background:
Since the first flight to the moon, and perhaps before, mankind has been possessed by the idea of space travel as a means for pushing the boundaries of human knowledge and improving the quality of life on earth. Agriculture can help solve the problems of food generation and oxygen/carbon dioxide recycling, which are critical for long-term space exploration.
One of the challenges of agriculture in zero-gravity or microgravity environments is getting water to move in a useful direction and optimizing that movement so that plants can absorb the water through the roots for a sufficient and useful amount of time. Aeroponics is a proven technology for mass producing food on Earth and is now a feasible solution for mass producing food beyond the Earth’s atmosphere.
Applications:
- Small or large-scale
- Long-term space travel
- ISS agriculture
Advantages:
- Ease of use
- Versatile use (small or large scale)
