Development of the Atmosphere Management System for the Lunar Agricultural Module - Ground Test Demonstrator LAM-GTD

Abstract

Long-duration space missions and the establishment of permanent extraterrestrial habitats demand robust, sustainable life support systems. Controlled Environment Agriculture is pivotal in meeting both the nutritional and psychological needs of astronauts, while simultaneously contributing to closed-loop life support. This thesis presents a novel design and comprehensive analysis of an advanced Atmosphere Management System (AMS) for the Lunar Agricultural Module - Ground Test Demonstrator, a terrestrial prototype engineered to simulate lunar agricultural conditions. Building on insights from pioneering projects such as the EDEN ISS Mobile Test Facility and the Advanced Plant Habitat, the proposed AMS integrates enhanced temperature, humidity, and gas regulation strategies to ensure optimal environmental conditions for both plant growth and crew safety. Notable innovations include an optimized dehumidification subsystem, improved air distribution through localized fan arrays, and a modular design that enhances system redundancy and simplifies maintenance. Detailed computational modelling and a full CAD model support the design choices. The advancements presented in this work address critical challenges such as under-dimensioned cooling capacity, microbial contamination, ethylene detection and improved crop evapotranspiration modelling, thereby contributing to the development of robust Bioregenerative Life Support Systems for future lunar and deep-space missions.