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#1 Re: Life support systems » Possible timelines for martian agriculture? » 2023-01-23 08:26:39

As far as I know, the plan of NASA is to perfect the concept of bioregenerative life support system (BLSS) in closed-loop environment. They don't want to make fail in BLSS during long-term space mission like staying for a long time in Moon or Mars.

#2 Re: Life support systems » Mushrooms - organic waste recycling, and vegan leather » 2023-01-23 08:18:20

I have undergraduate students who will work on their thesis about the bio-efficiency of inedible plant biomass in mushroom production. Once I got good results and published the manuscript in a scientific journal, I will share our paper with you for reference.

#3 Re: Life support systems » Iss Plant growth experiments - planning the future in 0g » 2023-01-23 08:09:08

My answer on this thread.

YES!

The National Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), organized a 2023-2032 Decadal Survey for Space Exploration, in collaboration with American Society for Gravitational and Space Research (ASGSR) and National Aeronautics Space and Space Administration (NASA).

Many scientists and researchers participated to share an idea as proposed research plans for the next decadal goal.

Bioregenerative Life Support System in Microgravity is one of the major topics tackled for meeting discussion. Stay tune for the release of this book about the Decadal Goal for Space Exploration.

#4 Re: Life support systems » Space Plant Pathology » 2023-01-22 09:37:49

Steve Stewart wrote:

Hello jfenciso and welcome back to the forum. I had a room-mate at Kansas State that received a degree in agronomy. Are you still in school? I see your background as being of great value on Mars. Nice to have you back.
-Steve

Hi Steve! I am currently working as Instructor at Romblon State University in the Philippines teaching a Genetics course this semester. I am happy that I successfully access my account with the help of the administrator of this website. I can participate in the forum again and help the others sharing my expertise.  big_smile

#5 Re: Life support systems » Space Plant Pathology » 2023-01-22 07:37:21

Hello! Good day! My last activity was in October 2018. Now, I'm coming back for this forum! big_smile

#6 Re: Life support systems » Space Medicine » 2023-01-22 07:36:07

Hello! Good day! My last activity was in October 2018. Now, I'm coming back for this forum! big_smile

#7 Re: Life support systems » Physiology of Martian crops » 2023-01-22 07:34:33

Hello! Good day! My last activity was in October 2018. Now, I'm coming back for this forum! big_smile

#8 Re: Life support systems » Physiology of Martian crops » 2020-12-06 23:27:30

tahanson43206 wrote:

For Calliban re #20

Thank you for this reminder of the potential of algae for Mars ... I liked the points you made about pumping algae through pipes for exposure to sunlight and return to below ground for harvesting.

I'd like to take this opportunity to remind anyone who might be interested in consumption of algae that the North Houston chapter of the National Space Society recently featured a speaker who has experience growing algae.  A point I recall from the presentation is that the researcher discovered that live algae has no unpleasant taste or aroma when used in food preparation.  Details may be found in the Other Space Organizations topic by searching for Houston and algae.

***
For SpaceNut re #21 ... those look like useful links!

(th)

If you want to make a research about the acceptability of algae as food. I suggest looking for any research paper about "Organoleptic study". This will serve as a guide in making a questionnaire for the public.

#9 Re: Life support systems » Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars. » 2020-12-03 10:14:54

tahanson43206 wrote:

For kbd512 re #18

I'm trying to figure out if we have an information sink on our hands, or if there is a chance we may see a net positive contribution to the forum.

A search of the forum archive with the keywords chemical and engineer would have delivered the ID of Oldfart1939, and perhaps others as well.

A search of the forum archive with the keywords chemical and processing may yield results that include detailed discussion of the procedure.

The forum archive includes thousands of posts, some of which contain little nuggets of information that would (or at least could) be helpful to a person planning a career on Mars itself, or in helping others to succeed in moving to Mars and attempting to survive there.

That said, with the ID of Oldfart1939 revealed, it is now possible for someone interested in the chemistry of urea processing to create a question.

Alternatively, a person ** could ** perform a search of all posts by Oldfart1939, containing the word urea.

Edit#1: This topic is about Apex structures ... a discussion of urea would be valuable and it should continue in a topic better suited for it.

I am interested in making structure from the natural materials that seem to exist where ice slabs are in the temperate regions of Mars.
I am interested in the apex.

Urea is certainly a "natural" material, but to the best of my knowledge it does not currently exist near ice slabs on Mars.

For SpaceNut ... is there a topic you'd recommend for this discussion to continue?

(th)


The reason why I recommend chemical engineers instead of chemists because they are knowledgeable or master in crafting a pilot and small-scale design of a chemical plant. They know any chemical processes to produce an interesting chemical reagent like urea or calcium chloride.

#10 Re: Life support systems » Iss Plant growth experiments - planning the future in 0g » 2020-12-02 23:29:43

tahanson43206 wrote:

For jfenciso re #29

The original posts were from 2007 or so ...

You could make a contribution here (if you have time) by updating the topic with current information.

I'm ** pretty ** sure I read a brief report on an attempt to grow lettuce or a similar leafy vegetable on the ISS.

(th)

Is The Mars Society have their own established research pipeline?

#11 Re: Life support systems » Iss Plant growth experiments - planning the future in 0g » 2020-12-02 23:28:40

tahanson43206 wrote:

For jfenciso re #29

The original posts were from 2007 or so ...

You could make a contribution here (if you have time) by updating the topic with current information.

I'm ** pretty ** sure I read a brief report on an attempt to grow lettuce or a similar leafy vegetable on the ISS.

(th)

I can't share this time, but I am willing to compile a paper about plant research in ISS and their related studies.

#12 Re: Life support systems » Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars. » 2020-12-02 23:27:29

tahanson43206 wrote:

For jfenciso re #15

Are there any chemical engineers already enrolled in the forum?

How could you find out?

(th)

If you make a thread about looking for a chemical engineer. To make it specific, try to make a thread about the compilation of experts here in this forum.

#13 Re: Life support systems » Space Medicine » 2020-12-02 23:00:24

SpaceNut wrote:

Portsmouth NH ha Lanza medical manufacturing plant that is Hugh in terms of making medications. So maybe we need some old time herbalists or medicine men for hire to know what to initially grow beyond what medications we will take with us.

We need to study the application of ethnobotany for space exploration. It is a good start to explore more things about space medicine.

#14 Re: Life support systems » Iss Plant growth experiments - planning the future in 0g » 2020-12-02 22:58:39

SpaceNut wrote:

This topic got trimmed by the great crash. Hopefully some of it will still be in the human folder Iss station topic

Is it possible to recover and update this forum?

#15 Re: Life support systems » Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars. » 2020-12-02 22:56:32

SpaceNut wrote:

Urea is (NH2)2CO which can be done from waste propellant manufacturing as the movie units waste is 2CO and the electrolysis of water and co2 compression would gather the n2 from it.

We need to look for a chemical engineer who has an interest in Mars. Their expertise would help to design about the refining and production of urea and calcium chloride.

#16 Re: Life support systems » Soil Manufacture on Mars » 2020-12-02 22:54:20

SpaceNut wrote:

Human Waste recovery plus all other recycling from the 6 to 8 month journey to mars would be the means to jump start Mars in situ but that mass volume is the problem for the landing along with the storage.

I will try later to look for a research paper about the possibility of human waste produced from Mars. big_smile

#17 Re: Life support systems » Apex structures for mid-latitude locations on Mars. » 2020-12-02 10:44:50

Void wrote:

------

Well (th), I was already going to propose that we allow for multiple options for methods.  I am older, so it gets harder to realize that others may still have things to teach me.  Grumpy perhaps to a bit.  I don't mind input, but when I am on a certain track, I guess I should make allowances that someone else may have conceived of something I had not.
So, I propose that the common eliments are a mold, perhaps a pyramid of compacted Martian regolith, and some way to upgrade the strenth and reliability of the more interior parts of the mass.  So I accept the alternatives and wish to be further instructed.
However, my part is remains to support my own proposals, and to listen with consideration, to other alternatives.  Thanks (th)!
I have read a bit about Thermite, interested.   But I should allow others to carry that forward, and I should continue myself with my own vision.  In other words I welcome alternate proposals.  Perhaps they might all have a place.
We are not haveing an argument, we are teaming up on this.
I like this one for my side:
https://www.themarysue.com/astronaut-pee-bricks/
https://www.themarysue.com/astronaut-pee-bricks/
I think it is too much pee for the astronauts to make, poor things.
So Urea and Calcium Chlorate would have to be manufactured for this project.
So, the arguments are mutual.  If you are going to use Thermite or something else, or if you are going to manufacture Urea and Calcium Chloride concentrates, it requires techniques and expending energy in both cases.
So, perhaps equally a problem.
I am not entirely satisfied with my previously proposed method of a form.  I am worried that it would stick inside of the formed mass.  So, I am thinking about a multifacited collapsable version perhaps involving hydrolics, and a significant strength in its interior members/beams.
-----
I sort of think of placing solar pannels on the south face of the pyramid/berm, and perhaps on the north face some kind of heavy oil, to retard deterioration.  Of course other methods could be considered.
-----
I am thinking of a sort of continuous if segmented form process, where your process takes in all the raw materials, regoith, and ice and perhaps things from the atmospehre, as if it were a mouth of a creature and forms a continuing extention of it's body.
I have not yet addressed partitioning, and also joining it to lakes, ice caves (For frozen and freeze dried foods, and yes glass domes, greenhouses, and advanced houses that use plastics and ice.  However to join them together would of course be the desire.
Please do post.  What we want is good results, however they can be obtained.
Done.



Speaking of Urea and Calcium Chloride, make sure that this is available in Mars. It is not feasible if we transport a lot of resources on Mars. We need to promote and develop the "In-Situ Resource Utilization" or "ISRU" on Mars. NASA is currently working on the principles for Artemis Lunar Space Program.

#18 Re: Life support systems » Dimple Greenhouses » 2020-12-02 10:40:37

SpaceNut wrote:

I think this is similar to how the trench would be shaped in the soil with some sort of containment for the growing area, The side away from the sun would be used to reflect the sun inside of the created chamber. The concave lenses shape aids in the directing the light internally.

https://www.homecsp.com/sites/default/f … k=m8ymPhUg


The lenses would work in this manner for its shape for light control
https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.timetoast.c … ncave1.jpg


If you want to use sunlight as a lighting source for the greenhouse. I suggest using the design from the German Aerospace Center and the European Space Agency.

https://www.researchgate.net/publicatio … use_Design

#19 Re: Life support systems » Dimple Greenhouses » 2020-12-02 10:33:53

I disagree with the use of transparent plastic film as roofings for the greenhouse. It is degradable than glass. Second, you should consider the environmental factors like radiation such as cosmic rays and gamma rays. These types of radiation could accelerate the degradation of materials. I suggest using roofing materials which less vulnerable to space radiation. It is ok to use a transparent plastic film if the greenhouse atmosphere was established already. A greenhouse atmosphere could help to protect us from space radiation.

For the design of Void, I agree. This could minimize the cost of walling construction and minimize the damage from dust storms or micrometeorite impacts.

#20 Re: Life support systems » The green grass of Mars » 2020-12-02 10:24:07

tahanson43206 wrote:

For jfenciso re #5

Thanks for continuing to contribute to the forum! 

Your suggestion of prairie grass is interesting.  When you said the grass would not need LED lighting, I was intrigued.  Can you describe how you would provide light to the grass in various locations on Mars?  In my post, I was thinking about providing the scent and feel of fresh grass inside a Mars habitat, far under ground.   Your vision may have a different location in mind?

Since you were here most recently, the forum members have made some progress in delivering visual content for display.  The images you may wish to show us can be stored on a web site called imgur.com.  There is no charge.  The web site provides a way for you to select a bit of bulletin board code that you then paste into the forum post.

There are numerous online and offline tools available for free, to help you to create diagrams to show us.

As an example, you can look at the work of Void.

http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 67#p174167

Here is an example from RobertDyck:

http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 68#p174168

Here is a "how to" article:

http://newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php … 72#p168972

(th)


I don't have any idea which places on Mars to be planted. If you have a research paper about the light properties of Mars measured in the photometric and quantum metric unit, it is much better. That paper could help us to understand which place in prairie grassland in the US which has a slightly similar light from Mars and serves as basis for selecting a prairie grass species. Sorry, I don't have any idea about prairie grassland in the US. That's what I assume for.

However, I am planning to study a neglected/underutilized crop.  I can't tell the details of the crop because I am currently crafting the literature review for the research project proposal, once I will go back to my university where I previously worked for. I will include the measurement of soil organic matter also while amending a plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR).

By the way, I am not living in U.S.. I am living in the Philippines.

#21 Re: Life support systems » Soil Manufacture on Mars » 2020-12-02 05:11:51

SpaceNut wrote:

Seems we are way off topic on building soils to grow food in...

Building fertile soils

Building Soil, Building the Future

Build better garden soils

8 Steps for Making Better Garden Soil

Making Biochar to Improve Soil

other words carbon in the soil is good for plant growth

I have a doubt to use biochar in space because you will use a lot of oxygen and electrical energy to ignite the crop waste. I need to study more about biochar. This time, I am skeptical about biochar. We need to balance and account for the use of resources like air in a closed-loop habitat system. No resources should be wasted.

#22 Re: Life support systems » Soil Manufacture on Mars » 2020-12-02 05:08:27

It is more sufficient and feasible enough if we focus on increasing soil organic matter in Martian regolith. Like utilizing the crop waste by composting with the aid of Trichoderma species.

#23 Re: Life support systems » The green grass of Mars » 2020-12-02 05:05:23

I suggest the use of grass from prairie grassland. A grass from prairie grassland doesn't need an LED light and could save electrical energy. And, prairie grass could sequester more carbon in the soil that could lead to an increase in the soil organic matter. High soil organic matter could help the soil more nourish and the microorganisms and plants could live healthy in Martian soil.

#24 Re: Life support systems » Iss Plant growth experiments - planning the future in 0g » 2020-12-02 04:57:40

SpaceNut, I think we need to update this like posting the links about the past and current research about crops planted in ISS.

#25 Re: Life support systems » Environmental Control and Life Support Systems » 2020-12-02 04:55:31

If I am free, I will post a link about a research paper related to the proposed design of environmental control and life support systems.

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