Micro-Climate Control Algorithm Development for Martian Greenhouses at SLS Lab KSC NASA Vadim Rygalov, Ph.D. Space Life Sciences Laboratory Department of Space Studies John D. Odegard School of Aero-Space Sciences University of North Dakota Relevance to NASA Growing plants in space Current plant tests on board of ISS Reduced pressure horticulture Reduced stresses & leaks rate Reduced re-supply capabilities Less plant growth system mass Wider selection of transparent materials for Space Greenhouse, etc. 2 Research Projects at UND SLSLab Testing of plant development cycle under reduced pressures Plants vegetation Plant seed germination Micro-climate control under reduced pressure Model development for thermal control Problem: Radiation dominates instead of convective heat exchange Thermal gradients development Model development for air circulation and photosynthetic gases exchange Problem: Diffusion dominates instead of convection Stagnant zones 3 Reduced Pressure Problems Combined stress: Sunburn Frost bite Increased evapo-transpiration Intelligent micro-climate control is a requirement Progress with the project Hardware LPTB (KSC NASA) Micro-Climate Control Data Acquisition Subsystem Artificial Atmospheres Subsystem Low Pressure Simulation System (UND SLSLab) Reduced Pressures Micro-Climate Model (UND SLSLab) 5 Research Team Co-Investigators Dr. Ray Wheeler Senior Scientist, NASA Surface Systems Office, Space Life Sciences Lab, KSC NASA SLSLab, KSC NASA Collaborators/Subcontractors Space Studies Students Josh Nelson (Dec grad.) Len Hillhouse (Summer 2012) Brad Schanche (M.S. Student) Ann Wargetz (M.S. Student) Marty McNutt (M.S. Student) 6 Presentations at the Conferences (subsequent publications): International Conference on Environmental Systems (ICES) Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) Global Luna Exploration Conference (GLEX), May 2012 Future Plans SLSLab KSC NASA Full scale simulation for plants growth under reduced pressure Thermotron at KSC NASA Mars Dome Integration Thermal Control Artificial Atmospheres Control Plant growth cycle (seed to seed) UND SLSLab Automated Mars Dome Micro-Climate Control Algorithm ISS Mars Dome Tests 7 8 ???