For centuries, humans have pondered the vastness of interstellar space and longed to know exactly what was out there. With the onset of the space race in the 1950’s, this aspiration seemed eventually reachable. Each new mission challenged the parameters of the last launch, in speed, distance, payload, and passengers. More recently, the possibility of travel to other planets within our solar system has approached feasibility. In 2003, the Mars robotic rovers exceeded all expectations, both mechanically and for information returned. By 2025, NASA plans to send humans to an asteroid and by the 2030’s, to Mars. A manned mission to Mars would last from one to three years (Salotti and Heidmann, 2014). If astronauts were to survive such a lengthy
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Micro-gravitational changes account for the greatest differences. The concept of a bioregenerative support system for a space flight or space station has been studied extensively since the 1950’s and 1960’s. Most of the early studies focused on the use of algae for oxygen production and carbon dioxide removal (Stutte et al. 2001). The fundamental topics, relative to plants grown in space will be addressed. First, to determine if plants can grow at all in space. Next, the long-term sustainability of plants as the driving force of holistic life-support systems will be explored. Specific adaptive strategies to compensate for lack of gravity in space and other challenges, such as nutrient delivery systems, light sources, and growth media options will be identified. Finally, gas exchange in closed systems, plant suitability, human factors, and possible applications for Earth agriculture will be …show more content…
In the introduction to their study, Croxdale et al. (1997) speculate that tubers would grow misshapen and unpredictably without the influence of gravity. Resulting measurement and microscopy studies revealed no significant differences in size, shape, or appearance between space and Earth grown tubers. The space-grown tubers contained a greater percentage of less mature, spherical starch grains and fewer, larger, more mature elongated grains than the ground control tubers. Nevertheless, the experiment demonstrated that tubers grown in space contained useable starch and were comparable to Earth grown
Micro-gravitational changes account for the greatest differences. The concept of a bioregenerative support system for a space flight or space station has been studied extensively since the 1950’s and 1960’s. Most of the early studies focused on the use of algae for oxygen production and carbon dioxide removal (Stutte et al. 2001). The fundamental topics, relative to plants grown in space will be addressed. First, to determine if plants can grow at all in space. Next, the long-term sustainability of plants as the driving force of holistic life-support systems will be explored. Specific adaptive strategies to compensate for lack of gravity in space and other challenges, such as nutrient delivery systems, light sources, and growth media options will be identified. Finally, gas exchange in closed systems, plant suitability, human factors, and possible applications for Earth agriculture will be …show more content…
In the introduction to their study, Croxdale et al. (1997) speculate that tubers would grow misshapen and unpredictably without the influence of gravity. Resulting measurement and microscopy studies revealed no significant differences in size, shape, or appearance between space and Earth grown tubers. The space-grown tubers contained a greater percentage of less mature, spherical starch grains and fewer, larger, more mature elongated grains than the ground control tubers. Nevertheless, the experiment demonstrated that tubers grown in space contained useable starch and were comparable to Earth grown