Category: Greenhab Report

Crew 279 GreenHab Report 04-04-2023

GreenHab Officer: Augustin Tribolet
Environmental control: Open during day and heater during night
Average temperatures: 62.2 F
Hours of supplemental light: N/A
Daily water usage for crops: 12.6 gallons
Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: N/A
Water in Blue Tank: 160.2 gallons
Time(s) of watering for crops: 06:15, 18:00
Changes to crops: N/A
Narrative: As part of the day-to-day activities of the GreenHab, general watering and maintenance of plants and crops was done, no new planting was performed. The door was left closed all day due to the strong wind and low sunlight.
Harvest: N/A
Support/supplies needed: N/A

Crew 279 GreenHab Report 03-04-2023

GreenHab Officer: Augustin Tribolet
Environmental control: Open during day and heater during night
Average temperatures: 79.7 F
Hours of supplemental light: N/A
Daily water usage for crops: 13.4 gallons
Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: N/A
Water in Blue Tank: 172.8 gallons
Time(s) of watering for crops: 10:30 am, 17:20
Changes to crops: N/A
Narrative: As part of the day-to-day activities of the GreenHab, general watering and maintenance of plants and crops was done, no new planting was performed. The door was left closed most of the day due to strong wind. A mouse has been caught today and released in the wild far from the station. The mouse trap will be reinstalled this evening.
Harvest: 217 g tomatoes, 4 g basilic, 0.5 g sage, 3 g mantes
Support/supplies needed: Watering can made of tin has a hole in it, but plastic watering can is sufficient

GreenHab Officer: Adrien Tison

Environmental control: Heater

Average Temperature: 69.5°F

Average humidity: 21%

Hours of supplemental light: 0 hour

Daily water usage for crops: 2.64 gallons (from the blue tank) & 10.57 gallons (from the aquaponics system)

Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: 0gallons

Water in the blue tank: 44.23 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 11:10

Changes to crops: N/A

Narrative: Today was the last day of the simulation, I then had to stop my experiments. I used the clean part of my aquaponics water to water plants and crops so as to waste as little water as possible.

Plants and crops look good; however, it seems important to keep an eye on the spinach as it seems to become a little bit soft. It is sad to witness that at the end of my mission…

However, I can’t tell you how delightful it is to see beans growing since I planted these, same for radishes, and cucumbers thriving.

Thus, overall, everything is fine, and future crews will be welcomed with greens and carrots as I saw!

It is with great pleasure that I worked in this environment for 4 weeks and a greater pleasure that I think about future crews working there.

Harvest: (From my aquaponics experiment) 146 g of iceberg salad, 125 g of ‘salad bowl’ (lettuce), 50 g of ‘salad blend’ (lettuce), 47 g of kale, 33 g of spinach, 18 g of basil

Support/supplies needed: As I said in the narrative, spinach seems to start to struggle, it would be nice to keep an eye on them.

As suggested by Donald, we will let you keep the fish, they are in a white bucket next to the tomato plants. Can you confirm that you will take them so that we know for sure that we do not need to take them with us?

GreenHab Officer: Adrien Tison

Environmental control: Heater, (open door)

Average Temperature: 86.5°F

Average humidity: 18%

Hours of supplemental light: 0 hour

Daily water usage for crops: 15.50 gallons

Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: 0 gallons

Water in the blue tank: 46.87 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 9:30 & 14:30

Changes to crops: N/A

Narrative: This morning it was our HSO who went to water plants as I was on an EVA.

It was already pretty hot in there; he then warned me about it.

I went to check on everything in the afternoon and I confirm that it was really hot. I saw that some plants, particularly tomatoes needed water (considering their dirt was quite dry).

I watered well plants and crops, this explains why there is more water used than usual.

I opened the door briefly for the temperature to drop down from 97°F to 86°F.

Apart from that, plants are looking good, the cucumber plant still amazes me.

And finally, I waited for the end of this narrative to talk about the fish because they are doing well.

These are good news, and a glimpse of hope for the end of this mission!

Harvest: N/A

Support/supplies needed: Even though the fish are doing well in their new habitat, I keep my proposition for Donald to retrieve them because it is not ideal to keep them in a small bucket.

GreenHab Officer: Adrien Tison

Environmental control: Heater

Average Temperature: 74.4°F

Average humidity: 20%

Hours of supplemental light: 0 hour

Daily water usage for crops: 9.51 gallons

Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: 2.11gallons

Water in the blue tank: 62.37 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 9:30

Changes to crops: N/A

Narrative: I start feeling like this week really is testing us right now…

Today morning another fish was found dead in the fish tank. I immediately started to transfer them to a white ‘bucket’ with clear water (taking my time nonetheless because they needed to get used to this new water).

Then I conducted water tests to understand, and the values obtained were quite usual, apart from the pH which went a little bit high too quickly. It means that the kH is high, and it may be the reason.

From now on I will not put them back in the aquaponics system. Indeed, if it isn’t due to the pH, the water may be infected. Not being able to treat the water or change the entirety of it considering the amount of time left, I’d rather keep them safe and finish the mission and my experiment with a hydroponics system.

Apart from that, I watered and maintained plants and crops. According to what I see I think the next crews will be able to harvest and eat well.

I really love seeing how cucumber plants are thriving and growing more and more.

Harvest: 427 g of tomatoes, 5 g of sage, 2 g of thyme

Support/supplies needed: Donald, considering how the fish are doing right now, you can come to take the fish if you want. I do not know if it is possible, but I mean, Safety first for them. As I will not reintegrate them into the aquaponics system I thought it wouldn’t be a problem for you to take them if you want to.

GreenHab Officer: Adrien Tison

Environmental control: Heater

Average Temperature: 87.5 °F

Average humidity: 20%

Hours of supplemental light: 0 hour

Daily water usage for crops: 12.68 gallons

Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: 0 gallons

Water in the blue tank: 73.99 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 8:30 & 15:15

Changes to crops: N/A

Narrative: This morning as it was our crew journalist’s departure for their surgery, we got up pretty early. It also was our second media day. So, I had to water plants and crops earlier.

Unfortunately, when I checked on the fish, I found one stuck to the pump, and thus, dead…

We do not know for sure if this is the reason, but water tests that have been conducted are good, it then shouldn’t be due to water. I will for sure continue testing the water to ensure their safety.

Apart from this unfortunate news, today was quite hot, tomato leaves are turning yellow, so I had to water plants more than usual. I also decided to put stronger sunshades for the day (30% on the left side and 50% on the right side).

Harvest: N/A

Support/supplies needed: N/A

GreenHab Officer: Adrien Tison

Environmental control: Heater

Average Temperature: 75.4°F

Average humidity: 23%

Hours of supplemental light: 0 hour

Daily water usage for crops: 12.68 gallons

Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: 0 gallons

Water in the blue tank: 86.67 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 9:45 & 15:45

Changes to crops: N/A

Narrative: Today I was a member of the morning EVA, thus, it was the crew astronomer who watered plants and crops in the morning.

In the afternoon, I went back to water them again and saw tomatoes ready to be harvested. I then harvested them after watering everything.

I also ran some water tests on my aquaponics.

Harvest: 808 g of tomatoes

Support/supplies needed: N/A

GreenHab Officer: Adrien Tison

Environmental control: Heater

Average Temperature: 78.5°F

Average humidity: 28%

Hours of supplemental light: 0 hour

Daily water usage for crops: 9.51 gallons

Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: 0 gallons

Water in the blue tank: 99.35 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 10:45

Changes to crops: I finally harvested the last greens and then planted new seeds in this planter next to the blue tank

Narrative: I went to water and maintain crops as my daily operations.

Thankfully the dirt wasn’t too dry considering I only went once yesterday.

Apart from that, I harvested the greens located in the planter next to the blue tank and planted new seeds. That way both planters may give some good greens for next crews!

Harvest: 81g of greens

Support/supplies needed: N/A

GreenHab Officer: Adrien Tison

Environmental control: Heater

Average Temperature: 71.5°F

Average humidity: 32%

Hours of supplemental light: 0 hour

Daily water usage for crops: 8.45 gallons

Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: 2.11 gallons

Water in the blue tank: 108.86 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 11:15

Changes to crops: N/A

Narrative: As we were only three crew members in the station this morning, and that we had little to no sleep, I was only able to go to the GreenHab pretty late and not for long.

I just went there in order to do what has to be done daily, but I didn’t take more time to do specific things.

I maintained and watered crops and plants, fed the fish, and checked if everything was alright.

Harvest: N/A

Support/supplies needed: N/A

GreenHab Officer: Adrien Tison

Environmental control: Heater

Average Temperature: 71.1°F

Average humidity: 25%

Hours of supplemental light: 0 hour

Daily water usage for crops: 8.45 gallons

Daily water usage for research and/or other purposes: 0 gallon

Water in the blue tank: 119.42 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 9:45

Changes to crops: I added sticks to support cucumbers, indeed, it was growing fast lately and taking too much space in the tank.

Narrative: As usual I went to maintain and water crops and plants in the morning.

Everything is looking good, greens I’ve planted a few days ago are starting to pop out of the dirt, and the beans I’ve also planted are looking good!

The GreenHab may be the most satisfying place in the station!

Surprisingly enough, cucumbers adapted quickly to this new positioning and their leaves are now facing the right way.

Harvest: 43g of spinach

Support/supplies needed: N/A