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A reliable nutrient delivery system is essential for long-term cultivation of plants in space. At the Kennedy Space Center, a series of ground-based tests are being conducted to compare candidate plant nutrient delivery systems for space. To date, our major focus has concentrated on the Porous Tube Plant Nutrient Delivery System, the ASTROCULTURE™ System, and a zeoponic plant growth substrate. The merits of each system are based upon the performance of wheat supported over complete growth cycles. To varying degrees, each system supported wheat biomass production and showed distinct patterns for plant nutrient uptake and water use.

Lunar and martian materials can be processed and used at planetary outposts to reduce the need (and thus the cost) of transporting supplies from Earth. A variety of uses for indigenous, on-site materials have been suggested, including uses as rocket propellants, construction materials, and life support materials. Utilization of on-site resources will supplement Regenerative Life Support Systems (RLSS) that will be needed to regenerate air, water, and wastes, and to produce food (e.g., plants) for human consumption during long-duration space missions.

The ASTROCULTURE™ flight unit flown as part of the SPACEHAB-03 mission on STS-63 was a complete plant growth system providing plant lighting, temperature control, humidity control, water and nutrient delivery, a CO2 control system, nutrient control using the NASA Zeoponics system, an ethylene photocatalysis unit, a control and data acquisition system, and plant video. The objective of the ASTROCULTURE™-4 experiment was to continue technological assessment of these environmental control subsystems. Plants were included in this package for the first time. Two plant species were flown, rapid cycling ‘Wisconsin Fast Plants’ (Brassica rapa), and dwarf wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. ‘Super Dwarf’). Growth and development of both plant species on orbit appeared normal and similar to that of plants grown under terrestrial conditions.