Category: Greenhab Report

Crew 186 Green Hab Report 02Jan2018

GreenHab Report

Mark Gee

02Jan2018

Environmental control:

Heating for entire Greenhab

Shade cloth on the crops

Working Hour: 06:00PM
Inside temp at working hour: 16 C
Outside temp during working hours: 0 C
Inside temperature high: 35 C
Inside temperature low: 15 C
Inside humidity: 26 %RH

Inside humidity high: 35 %RH
Inside humidity low: 16 %RH

Hours of supplemental light:

For the crops 07:00-08:00AM, 05:00 – 11:59PM

Changes to crops: Three flats of radish microgreens have been planted.

Daily water usage for crops: 8.5 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 09:00AM, 04:30PM

Moring research observations: The Greenhab Officer from Crew 185 left an experiment comparing the growth of tomato plants with and without a foliar application of moringa extract. Both treatments are growing well.

Changes to research plants:

Space exploration is a great challenge and the next step of the journey is to send a person to Mars. Plants will play a critical role because of their ability to generate oxygen, water, and fresh food. In the near future, generating fresh food will be the most important role for plants because abiotic means of providing oxygen and water are very effective.

Microgreens provide a quick and efficient way to produce fresh food in space because they can be harvested in 10 days and can potentially grow without soil. I am comparing how well microgreens grow in potting soil, pulverized clay, and on a cloth with no growth medium to investigate if soil-free microgreen production is feasible in simulated Mars greenhouse habitat.

As well, plants depend on the microbes present in their environment to help them grow. As far as we know, no bacteria exist on Mars, and future Mars explorations will attempt to remain as sterile as possible to avoid contaminating the planet. The one source of microbes that will be intentionally transported are the microbes stored in the guts of the astronauts.

How well will microgreens grow when removed from the context of their native microbiome? If the microgreens are colonized by microbes from the astronauts, will there be an additional effect on plant growth?

To help answer these questions about the plant microbiome I am growing radish microgreens in a sterilized, soil-free environment and comparing treatments that have been inocculated with greywater from the hab, inocculated with native soil bacteria, and innoculated with sterile water.

In total, 15 flats of radish microgreens have been planted for the experiments above.

Aquaponics: Not Functional

Narrative: Last night I was working late in the Green Hab to prepare the microgreen experiment. At about 9pm the lights shut off unexpectedly which was concerning because there have been so many problems with the generator. Fortunately, it was only the analog timer that had malfunctioned and I was able to quickly reset it to get the lights back on.

This morning, the microgreen experiment was set up with the help of our Commander Max.

The Arduino temperature/humidity logger died yesterday after 28 hours of recording data. This means I only have to swap the batteries once a day. The difference between the logged data and readouts from the gauge used by previous crews was reasonably small.

A rocket ship landed mid-afternoon and deposited several bags of potting soil and perlite outside the habitat. Thank you to the pilot.

Support/supplies needed: None

GreenHab Report

Mark Gee

01Jan2018

Environmental control: Heating with shade cloth on

Working Hour: 05:50 PM
Inside temp at working hour: 17 C
Outside temp during working hours: 6 C
Inside temperature high: 28 C
Inside temperature low: 15 C
Inside humidity: 42 %RH

Inside humidity high: 48 %RH
Inside humidity low: 25 %RH

Hours of supplemental light:

17:00 to 24:00

Changes to crops: Below is a formatted inventory of all of the crops, quantity, growth stage, actions taken, and notes. The table is also attached incase it is not visible here.

Name	Quantity	Growth Stage	Action	Notes
Dill Weed	2ft row, ~40 plants	Seedling, 3 true leaves
Rosemary	2ft row, ~20 plants	Seedling, 1 true leaf
Parsley	2ft row, ~50 plants	Seedling, cotyledon
Cilantro	2ft row, ~40 plants	Seedling, 1 true leaf
Oregano	2ft row, ~100 plants	Seedling, cotyledon
Sage	2ft row, ~10 plants	Seedling, 1 true leaf
Basil	2ft row, ~40 plants	Seedling, 1 true leaf
Thyme	2ft row, ~30 plants	Seedling, 1 true leaf
Chives	2ft row, ~20 plants	Seedling, 1 leaf
Spinach, Bloomsdale	2 seedling trays, 10 plants	Seedling, cotyledons		Need transplanting
Kale, Blue Curled Scotch	1 seedling tray, 2 pots, ~50 plants	Seedling, cotyledons		Need thinning
Cabbage, Golden Acre	1 seedling tray, ~20 plants	Seedlings, cotyledons		Need thinning
Moringa Olifera	14 plots	No plants		These are trees. Should they be grown in the small Greenhab?
Paperwhites	3 pots, seven plants	Various, sprouted to flowering	Moved flowering plants to the habitat to improve morale
Beans, Pole	27 plants	3ft vines, producing flowers and pods		Harvest in 1 week
Melon	8 plants	2ft vines, no flowers
Peppers	9 pots, 23 plants	8 inches, vegetative
Tomatoes	24 pots, 54 plants	6in-48in tall, some flowering		Need transplanting

Daily water usage for crops: 8 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 05:50

Research observations: None

Changes to research plants: None.

Aquaponics: Not Functional

Narrative:

The crew entered simulation at noon. We will have to adjust to the isolation from society, cramped quarters, and space supplies. I’m hoping to make this transition easier with the produce from the Green Hab. Several of the crops are nearing harvest and I hope to cook a meal with fresh food later in the rotation to boost crew morale. For dinner, I brought some of the blooming paperwhites to the table.

I cleaned the greenhouse and packed the aquaponics equipment to make room for the microgreen experiment and have been sterilizing the soil, growing surfaces, and water.

Support/supplies needed: 3 agar plates to check seed sterilization procedures

GreenHab Report

Mark Gee

31Dec2017

Environmental control:

Heating

Shade cloth on West half of the Green Hab

Working Hour: 10:40
Inside temp at working hour: 18 C
Outside temp during working hours: -2.5 C
Inside temperature high: 19 C
Inside temperature low: 14 C
Inside humidity: 30 %RH

Inside humidity high: 30 %RH
Inside humidity low: 21 %RH

Hours of supplemental light: 17:00 to 24:00

Changes to crops: Beans nearing harvest. Cucumbers recovered from wilting. Nothing died and nothing was planted.

Daily water usage for crops: 6 gallons

Time(s) of watering for crops: 10:40 and 18:00

Morning research observations: Moringa experiment watered and plants look normal.

Changes to research plants: None.

Aquaponics: Not Functional

Narrative: The handoff from Crew 184 went very well yesterday. Thank you to the Green Hab Officer David for walking me through the experiments.

Today I watered the crops whenever there was a break in crew training. The beans and radishes are near harvest. There are +20 tomato, +10 cucumber, and various other plants in intermediate growth stages.

I’ve built a device to log temperature and humidity continuously throughout the day using an Arduino, DHT11 sensor, and an SD card shield. The device has been running all day and will continue to record through the night to determine the maximum battery life.

Tomorrow I will create a complete inventory of the crops and current experiments. As well, I will prepare the East half of the Green Hab for my experiments with microgreens.

Support/supplies needed: Potting soil needed.

Happy New Year!

Mark Gee, Green Hab Officer, Crew 186

Greenhab Report
David Murray
29 Dec, 2017

Environmental control: (Choose which is appropriate and explain further if needed)
Ambient
Ambient with window/door open from 9:05 – 16:57
Working Hour: 14:21
Inside temp at working hour: 22 C
Outside temp during working hours: 5 C
Inside temperature high: 24 C
Inside temperature low: 16 C
Inside humidity: 23%

Heating
Functioning nominally
Turns on at 16 C and off at 20 C
Cooling
Not functional
Shade Cloth On/Off
On
The greenhab lights are on from 17:00 to 24:00 every night
Average temperature:
N/A

Changes to Crops
None
Morning Research Observations
N/A
Daily Water Usage for Crops
6 gallons
Time(s) of Watering Crops
9:15
Aquaponics
N/A

Narrative
The GreenHab is clean and ready for the next crew. They’ll be inheriting a fertilizer sprayer, about seven hundred grams of moringa leaf and shoot matter, and a blender. All of the plants are healthy and no plants were lost unintentionally. I have left a note indicating when the next application of each fertilizer is due. Everything has been cleaned. Tomorrow evening I’ll have an opportunity to train the incoming GreenHab Officer and to meet the rest of Crew 186.

Support/Supplies Needed
Sand to be used as a substrate for moringa.

David Murray

Environmental control: (Choose which is appropriate and explain further if needed)

Ambient
Ambient with window/door open from 9:40 – 18:06
Working Hour: 15:38
Inside temp at working hour: 23 C
Outside temp during working hours: 8 C
Inside temperature high: 26 C
Inside temperature low: 15 C
Inside humidity: 60%

Heating
Functioning nominally
Turns on at 16 C and off at 20 C
Cooling
Not functional
Shade Cloth On/Off
On
The greenhab lights are on from 17:00 to 24:00 every night
Average temperature:
N/A
Changes to Crops
None
Morning Research Observations
N/A
Daily Water Usage for Crops
6 gallons
Time(s) of Watering Crops
15:25

Aquaponics
N/A
Narrative
I replaced some of the tomato cages around the beans with wooden poles. Fourteen moringa seeds were planted in soil and five were started in damp paper towels.
Support/Supplies Needed
N/A

Greenhab Report

David Murray

27 Dec, 2017

Environmental control:

Ambient

Ambient with window/door open from 14:05 – 16:20

Working Hour: 14:14

Inside temp at working hour: 35 C

Outside temp during working hours: 7 C

Inside temperature high: 40 C

Inside temperature low: 19 C

Inside humidity: 46%

Heating

Functioning nominally

Turns on at 16 C and off at 20 C

Cooling

Not functional

Shade Cloth On/Off

On

The greenhab lights are on from 17:00 to 24:00 every night

Average temperature:

N/A

Changes to Crops

Cucumbers are wilting because of the heat.

Morning Research Observations

N/A

Daily Water Usage for Crops

6 gallons

Time(s) of Watering Crops

14:14

Aquaponics

N/A

Narrative

The cucumbers were wilting because the inside temperature got too hot and the soil was dry. They recieved extra water today and they should be fine by tomorrow.

Support/Supplies Needed

N/A

 

[title Greenhab Report – December 26th]

David Murray

Environmental control:

 

Ambient
Ambient with window/door open from 12:30 – 16:55
Working Hour: 12:30
Inside temp at working hour: 24 C
Outside temp during working hours: 3 C
Inside temperature high: 30 C
Inside temperature low: 15 C
Inside humidity: 21%

Heating
Functioning nominally
Turns on at 16 C and off at 20 C

Cooling
Not functional

Shade Cloth On/Off
On
The greenhab lights are on from 17:00 to 24:00 every night

Average temperature:
N/A

Changes to Crops
More beans on the bean plant and three spinach sprouts
Morning Research Observations
N/A

Daily Water Usage for Crops
2 gallons

Time(s) of Watering Crops
12:30

Aquaponics
N/A

Narrative
The crew salvaged some ice sheets a couple days ago for use in the greenhab. Today, I used the last of that. Two more spinach seeds have sprouted and everything looks healthy. There is no noticeable difference between the control and experimental groups of tomato plants.

Support/Supplies Needed
N/A

Greenhab Report
David Murray
25 Dec, 2017

Environmental control:
Ambient
Ambient with door open from 9:30 to 17:18
Working Hour: 17:18
Inside temp at working hour: 16 C
Outside temp during working hours: 4.5 C
Inside temperature high: 32 C
Inside temperature low: 14 C
Inside humidity: 21%
Heating
Functioning nominally,
Turns on at 16 C and off at 20 C
Cooling
Not functional
Shade Cloth On/Off
On
The greenhab lights are on from 17:00 to 24:00 every night
Average temperature:
N/A
Changes to Crops
One spinach sprout
Morning Research Observations
N/A

Daily Water Usage for Crops
5 gallons
Time(s) of Watering Crops
17:18
Aquaponics
N/A
Narrative
One spinach seed has sprouted. All the plants look healthy. I’ll transplant the kale, cabbage, and spinach sprouts into larger pots over the next couple days.
Support/Supplies Needed
N/A

David Murray
24 Dec, 2017
Environmental control: (Choose which is appropriate and explain further if needed)
Ambient
Ambient with door open from 9:28 to 14:24
Working Hour: 14:06
Inside temp at working hour: 20 C
Outside temp during working hours: 4 C
Inside temperature high: 25 C
Inside temperature low: 15 C
Inside humidity: 20%
Heating
Functioning nominally,
Turns on at 16 C and off at 20 C
Cooling
Not functional
Shade Cloth On/Off
On
The greenhab lights are on from 17:00 to 24:00 every night
Last night, the lights were unplugged at 19:00 to conserve energy but were plugged back in at 9:30 this morning to resume their normal schedule.
Average temperature:
N/A
Changes to Crops
All kale and cabbage seeds have sprouted
Morning Research Observations
N/A
Daily Water Usage for Crops

4 gallons
Time(s) of Watering Crops
14:06
Aquaponics
N/A
Narrative
All of the kale and cabbage seeds have sprouted and all the plants look healthy. There are bean pods on a few plants.
Support/Supplies Needed
N/A

Greenhab Report
David Murray
23 Dec, 2017
Environmental control: (Choose which is appropriate and explain further if needed)
Ambient
Ambient with door open from 9:56 to 15:37
Working Hour: 14:54
Inside temp at working hour: 19 C
Outside temp during working hours: 4.5 C
Inside temperature high: 25 C
Inside temperature low: 15 C
Inside humidity: 16%
Heating
Functioning nominally,
Turns on at 16 C and off at 20 C
Cooling
Not functional
Shade Cloth On/Off
On
The greenhab lights are on from 17:00 to 24:00 every night
Average temperature:
N/A
Changes to Crops
Kale and cabbage are sprouting
Morning Research Observations
N/A

Daily Water Usage for Crops
2 gallons
Time(s) of Watering Crops
15:37
Aquaponics
N/A
Narrative
Today I marked the controls and applied the Moringa oleifera fertilizer to 13 tomato plants. The kale and cabbage are starting to sprout but no sign of the spinach. Space in the greenhab is limited so I have to remove some of the tomatoes.
Support/Supplies Needed
N/A