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Technical Paper

Low Pressure Greenhouse Concepts for Mars: Atmospheric Composition

2002-07-15
2002-01-2392
The main principles of artificial atmospheric design for a Martian Greenhouse (MG) are described based on: 1. Cost-effective approach to MG realization; 2. Using in situ resources (e.g. CO2, O2, water); 3. Controlled greenhouse gas exchange by using independent pump in and pump out technologies. We show by mathematical modeling and numerical estimates based on reasonable assumptions that this approach for Martian deployable greenhouse (DG) implementation could be viable. A scenario of MG realization (in terms of plant biomass/photosynthesis, atmospheric composition, and time) is developed. A list is given of technologies (natural water collection, MG inflation, oxygen collection and storage, etc.) that are used in the design. The conclusions we reached are: 1. Initial stocks of oxygen and water probably would be required to initiate plant germination and growth; 2. Active control of MG ventilation could provide proper atmospheric composition for each period of plant growth; 3.
Technical Paper

Life Support Trade Studies Involving Plants

2001-07-09
2001-01-2362
Plants can be grown in space to support human life, providing food, and regenerating water and air. Various groups have demonstrated that plants can support human life on the ground, and that plants can grow in space. One would suppose that plants are also able to support human life in space, though obviously it would be a good idea to demonstrate that ability before committing to a mission requiring bioregeneration. However, plant growth in space requires that we provide the necessary conditions for growth, and this might require not only providing water and fertilizer as we do in terrestrial agriculture, but also a controlled environment and lighting. This would make crops much more costly than we are accustomed to on Earth, where the majority of crops are grown outside and where natural sunlight is generally adequate. On the other hand, providing food, air, and water in space by any other means is also costly.
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