Search Results

The Plant Growth Facility (PGF) is under development as a Shuttle middeck apparatus to support research on higher plants in microgravity. It is designed to operate for 15 days, and will provide (1) fluorescent lighting at a minimum of 220 μmol m-2 s-1 evenly distributed (±10%) over the growth area, (2) temperature control to a set point of ±10°C of cabin ambient with a control accuracy of ±1°C, (3) humidity control ±5% for set points between 30-80% RH, and (4) carbon dioxide control ±5% over a range of 300-5000 ppm. Filters will be provided to remove ethylene and trace organics from the internal air flow.

Engineers and scientists from BioServe Space Technologies and Kennedy Space Center (KSC) are developing a flight-rated payload for the evaluation of two space-based plant nutrient delivery systems (NDS's). The hardware is comprised of BioServe's Plant Generic Bioprocessing Apparatus (PGBA) and KSC's Porous Tube Insert Module (PTIM). The PGBA, a double-middeck locker, will serve as the host carrier for the PTIM and will provide computer control of temperature, relative humidity, and carbon dioxide levels. The PTIM will insert into the PGBA's growth chamber and will facilitate the side-by-side comparison of the two NDS's: 1) the porous tube NDS, consisting of six porous tubes with seeds mounted in close proximity to the tubes, and 2) a substrate-based NDS, with three compartments each containing a porous tube embedded in a particulate substrate.