Defining the Engineering Envelope of VMA-Based Fogponics for Lunar Greenhouses

Kurzfassung

Bioregenerative life support systems (BLSS) are essential for long-duration lunar missions that require resupply independence. Current aeroponic architectures exhibit operational vulnerabilities including high-pressure pump related issues and biofilm proliferation. This research investigates fogponics as an alternative by utilizing Vibrating Mesh Atomizers (VMA) to deliver nutrient solutions. Adopting a Research through Design (RtD) framework, the study decontextualized the nutrient delivery problem by developing a custom prototype as a formal research instrument. This methodological approach enabled the isolation of mechanical and chemical variables through controlled duty cycles and intentional design moves. Experimental results identified salt precipitation and structural mesh rupture as dominant failure modes that define the current operational boundaries of VMA technology. Quantitative analysis demonstrated that gravimetric flowrate serves as a reliable health metric for VMA performance. Specifically, 25 µm modules exhibited catastrophic mesh rupture while 2.9 µm modules experienced significant delivery degradation due to salt deposition. These failures led to substantial nutrient retention within the system. Furthermore, the findings reveal a strong coupling between pH and temperature, where thermal loads directly influenced chemical signal integrity. This thesis contributes a laboratory validated research platform and an evidence-based characterization of dominant failure mechanisms. By establishing first-order design rules and defining a bounded engineering knowledge base, this work provides a standardized framework for VMA research in lunar crop production. The results emphasize the necessity of measuring parameters at both the reservoir and drain to maintain system stability and inform future high-technology readiness level (TRL) lunar greenhouse architectures.