Plant production, energy balance and monitoringcontrol-telepresence in a recirculating hydroponic vegetable crop production system: Prototype lunar greenhouse

The goals of this investigation were to evaluate a Bioregenerative Life Support System (BLSS) approach for a sustained human surface presence on the Moon (or Mars) for a four-person crew by the development and/or demonstration of polyculture crop production, system mass balances and flow of input/output resources, biomass recycling, energy generation, and monitoring/control with non-contact sensing and telepresence technologies. Food production efficiency (kg/unit time/resource input) was determined based on fresh and dry weights produced per unit time, volume, and input resources. A Solar Concentrated Power System using a Himawari was evaluated. A Remote Experts Network and Decision Support System (RENDSys) was created to improve the monitoring and control capability with noncontact sensing and telepresence technologies. An Energy Cascade Model for a multicrop lunar greenhouse system was evaluated. These component systems represent several of the major developmental needs for a future BLSS as determined by the Arizona-NASA Steckler Space Grant Program: Prototype Lunar Greenhouse Development. Each was discussed individually in detail within the proceedings of the 44th International Conference on Environmental Systems, Tucson, Arizona. This paper represents an overview of the Prototype Lunar Greenhouse Development based on those reports.