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A hydroponic system for microgravity plant experimentsThe construction of a permanently manned space station will provide the opportunity to grow plants for weeks or months in orbit for experiments or food production. With this opportunity comes the need for a method to provide plants with a continuous supply of water and nutrients in microgravity. The Capillary Effect Root Environment System (CERES) uses capillary forces to maintain control of circulating plant nutrient solution in the weightless environment of an orbiting spacecraft. The nutrient solution is maintained at a pressure slightly less than the ambient air pressure while it flows on one side of a porous membrane. The root, on the other side of the membrane, is surrounded by a thin film of nutrient solution where it contacts the moist surface of the membrane. The root is provided with water, nutrients and air simultaneously. Air bubbles in the nutrient solution are removed using a hydrophobic/hydrophilic membrane system. A model scaled to the size necessary for flight hardware to test CERES in the space shuttle was constructed.
Document ID
20040089874
Acquisition Source
Kennedy Space Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Wright, B. D.
(College Station United States)
Bausch, W. C.
Knott, W. M.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
March 1, 1988
Publication Information
Publication: Transactions of the ASAE. American Society of Agricultural Engineers
Volume: 31
Issue: 2
ISSN: 0001-2351
Subject Category
Man/System Technology And Life Support
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS10-10933
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
short duration
Biosatellite 2 Project
NASA Discipline Life Support Systems
NASA Discipline Number 61-20
NASA Center KSC
STS Shuttle Project
manned
unmanned
Flight Experiment
NASA Program CELSS

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