Conceptual Layout of an Advanced Nutrient Delivery System (NDS) for Greenhouse Modules on Moon and Mars

Kurzfassung

The choice of developing the technology to allow astronauts on long-duration missions have a constant supply of food against resupplying the crew is an easy decision. It is a general rule of thumb that the further away from Earth astronauts are the greater the costs of the resupply mission. It is simply not feasible to introduce this as a central mission operation for long duration missions. Therefore, it is essential that the technology allowing on-site food production is developed and proven before humans set foot on Mars. The technology needed is known as Bio-regenerative Life Support Systems (BLSS). At the heart of this system is the Greenhouse Module (GHM) where the food provisions for the crew are grown. Possibly the most important subsystem of the GHM is the Nutrient Delivery System (NDS). As the name suggests, the NDS is responsible for delivering the necessary nutrients and water provisions to each crop present, to ensure optimal growth of that crop each harvest. Due to the need to provide a varied diet to the astronauts, it can be assumed that this system will be responsible for multiple crops, each requiring a specially tailored nutrient solution for optimal crop yield. This system must also operate autonomously for the majority of its operation time, to reduce the crew work load and to allow it to operate remotely in preparation for crew arrival. This thesis has provided two distribution solutions for this problem, choosing one and analysing it. Alongside this, procedures were developed for the autonomous operation of said system. The need for ion-selective sensors within the system design has been emphasised and implemented into the system design. Some issues involved with the automation were identified; such as the need to automate the calibration and storage of the many sensors throughout the system. A direct solution for this problem has not been included but possible solutions have been addressed from a top level perspective