RESEARCH TOPICS

Hydroponics refers to the technique of growing plants without soil. In hydroponic systems, the roots of plants are submerged in liquid solutions containing macronutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, Sulphur, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, as well as trace elements, including iron, chlorine, manganese, boron, zinc, copper, and molybdenum. Hydroponics offers many advantages, notably a decrease in water usage in agriculture and the plants grows very fast.

Grow To Eat

Artichoke, Arugula, Asparagus, Basil, Bean (Common), Beat root, Bok, Choy, Broad, Bean, Broccoli, Brussel, Sprout, Cabbage, Capsicum, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Endive, Fodder, Garlic, Kale, Leek, Lettuce, Marrow, Okra, Onions, Pak, Choi, Parsnip, Pea, Pea (Sugar), Pepino, Peppers, Peppers (Bell), Peppers (Hot), Potato, Pumpkin, Radish, Spinach, Silver beet, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potato, Taro, Tomato, Turnip, Zucchini.

Strawberries, Watermelon, Hydroponic Berries, Grapes, Canaloupe.

Anise, Basil, Catnip, Chamomile, Chervil, Chicory, Chives, Cilantro, Coriander, Dill, Fennel, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Mint, Mustard Cress, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Tarragon, Thyme, Watercress.

Fiber is a natural or man-made substance that is significantly longer than it is wide.

Fibers are often used in the manufacture of other materials. The strongest engineering materials often incorporate fibers, for example carbon fiber and ultra-high-molecularweight polyethylene.

Based on source or origin the fibers classify into 2 types:

• Natural Fiber

• Man-made Fiber.

The fiber produced from the animal, plant, or a geographical process is called Natural fiber.

Man-made fibers are fibers that are chemically processed. In this process fibers modified during the manufacturing process to create properties and required structure. In addition, it made by synthetic fibers or regenerated natural fibers.

Man-made Fiber Calculations:

• Spinning 180 km / h

• 1gr Lunar Regolith = 2.4 km Fiber

• Fibers = 16 μm thickness

• Energy cons. = 750 W / h

• 1 Solar Panel 2094x1038x35 mm= 400 W/h

• Module (d=8m, h=5m) A= 50m2

• Fiber needed =ap. 400kg

• Spinning process: 1 day (max 15 gr per day)

• Construction process: 1kg / h = 400h (17days) 24h

ENERGY REQUIRED:

Approximate power consumption of a single unit is 2 kW. Given that the Moon’s surface experiences a mean total solar irradiance value of 1363W/m² and assuming efficiency of energy conversion for GaAs photovoltaic cells of 30%, a power of 409 W/m² would minimally be available. Hence a single fibre processing unit requires 5 m² of solar panels.

Basalt Fiber

Basalt fibre, very similar to fiberglass, is made of volcanic rock, mainly found in the lunar maria. It is composed of the mineral’s plagioclase, pyroxene, and olivine. The main components of basalt are the metal oxides SiO2, Al2O3, CaO, MgO, Fe2O3, and FeO. Possible other components in smaller amounts are K2O, Na2O, and TiO2.

Basalt is categorized, based on its main component SiO2, into alkaline (up to 42% SiO2), mildly acidic (43 to 46 % SiO2) and acidic basalts (over 46% SiO2), whereas only acidic basalts are suitable for continuous fibre production.

The main difference compared to other metal oxide fibres, such as glass fibres or ceramic fibres, is the content of iron oxides in the basalt fibres. This gives the basalt fibres the dark coloration in contrast to the white and transparent glass and ceramic fibres.

Carbon Fiber

Carbon Fiber is a polymer and is sometimes known as graphite fiber. It is a very strong material but also very lightweight, five-times stronger than steel and twice as stiff. Though carbon fiber is stronger and stiffer than steel, it is lighter than steel; making it the ideal manufacturing material for many parts.

Carbon fiber is made of thin, strong crystalline filaments of carbon that is used to strengthen material. Carbon fiber can be thinner than a strand of human hair and gets its strength when twisted together like yarn.

Carbon Fiber: use for the interior walls, slabs, furniture, and the machinery needed on the moon.

The lignin should be separated from the plants since as a bio-derived alternative, has received growing interest in the production of carbon fiber due to its high carbon content of 50% to 71%.

There are two main methods to separate lignin:

• By disoolving and removing other components in plants except for lignin.

• By dissolving lignin as a soluble component from other components (such as cellulose & hemicellulose).

Production

Basalt Fiber Silicon Dioxide Regolith

Carbon Fiber

Carbon Fiber From Plant

Timeline

Photovoltaic panels should be vertical installed due the sun beams in the lunar surface are just 2 degree covering horizontally the surface.

4 Crew Members: Engineer, Scientist, Biologist, Astronaut. The Crew will be the one who’s will start the preparation for the next level of research. The inflatable structure will be set for the crew to live in a short period of time until the modules will be built by the fibers.

The robots will start building the modules one by one while the crew will use the common area to live and do the research.

CREW MEMBERS:

• Engineer: In charge of the technical parts and issue of the spaceship. After lunar landing, he will be in charge for the first phase of accommodation.

• Astronaut: Launch and extravehicular activity and also for lunar landing. Will help for the extreme environment of the crew.

• Biologist: The extreme condition of food and growing plant. First growing phase of the plant and saving the seed through the transportation.

• Scientist: Will be part of the research in the first phase for materials and the environment in lunar surface.

1. Robots will be sent to moon to analyze the site where the habitation will be built and to set the power panels.

Phases

1. In the first phase is the landing on the lunar surface and the accommodation on the inflatable temporary structure. Will start also to build the new and first fiber modul.

2. The inflatable temporary structure will be use as a semi privatcy because the daily work rutine wil be moved on the new modul, which will be the mein space to connect the other moduls when is needed.

3. The main Modul will be more livebale and the growing plants will start to have place on the next experimental green house. On the other side the common area and the technic space will be build up.

4. The experimental green house will be build up also the plants will be grown up to build more the station. More private room will be build to have more space.

5. More moduls will be instaled through the Air-locks. Depending on the sound area will be the funksions of the new moduls.

3. The inflatable structure will be set for the crew to live in a short period of time.

Shackleton

4. The robots will start building the modules one by one while the crew will use the common area to live and do the research.