Life Support Project
From: Terry Kok
I am so glad that we're COMMUNICATING! Too bad that I didn't fire up my computer until after the Wednesday evening meeting was over. Too late. So, here I am compiling a few emails I made to this group so the new folks can have a read too.
Good people. This life support business is REAL! As I see it, our goal is beyond Flashline MARS to Mars itself, and, the way things are going with the ecosystems on Earth, we may be building the sort of "ecobubbles" which will sustain us here as well. Our long range job is to provide 100% recycling for the crew and, in doing so, provide them with all the essentials. I'll be posting in a day or so exactly what those essentials consist of.
Please take your time to read (or reread) my previous postings below. See the list of question at the end? I want to see you add your questions and we'll see if, together, we can find the answers. This is a special self-appointed crew, composed of sincere people who have been drawn to this list for a very special purpose. We are laying the groundwork for Mars here and now. Without sustainable life support nobody is going to live there ever. We are going to provide the solution. Get out there and do some quality research. If you need help with sources, ask. Read on. Consider the angles. Dream on it. Then - POST YOUR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS!
Terry R. Kok - Starlight Technology biostar_a@yahoo.com (812) 275-0694
earlier postings ahead ............
1) KISS (Keep it Simple Stupid) - Complexity in a CELSS should be in the ecosystems, not in the hardware. Pumps break down. Filters clog. Every part needs to be user accessible and easily cleaned and repaired on site without disrupting the ecosystems. The fewer moveable parts the better.
2) Power is at a premium (10kw) and should be placed in lighting not pumps. LEDS are more efficient, less breakable, more reliant, and have a longer lifespan than other lighting sources. The colors (red, green, blue) can be tailored to the plant's needs and can be placed throughout the canopy, close to photosynthesizing surfaces without burning cells. LEDs can be augmented with sunlight (if and when available).
At the last International Conference on Life Support and Biosphere Science I received a summary sheet on LED lighting which gives a specific strategy for lighting CELSS. It is the best I've seen. At the conference there were presentations on growing plants with red LEDS, red and blue LEDs, and red and blue and green LEDs (the one which works all the way to viable seed production). LEDs are the best we have available at this time. They are more efficient, produce less heat (thus can be placed right next to photosynthesizing surfaces), last longer than any other light source, are extremely durable, and the spectrum can be tailored to plant growth. LEDs have a small photovoltaic effect which, when the green LEDs are connected in a feedback circuit, automaticly tailors the amount of each spectrum applied, according to the photovoltaic feedback received from "bounce-back" light, determined by the thickness (state of health) of the canopy. In my opinion LED ighting is the way to go.
3) HIGH LEVEL OF SUBSYSTEM INTEGRATION - Think in terms of coupling/integrating subsystems into one larger system where parts may synergeticly serve multiple functions.
4) POTENTIAL PROBLEMS:
a. SODIUM SALT BUILD-UP - Humans need and eliminate sodium salt which most terrestrial plants hate. The answer lies in the inclusion of edible RECREATING HALOPHYTES (Lambs Quarter is one). RHs uptake and store sodium salts (which we need to consume). RHs should be placed "early" in the waste stream to protect plants further downstream from sodium.
b. MATERIALS OUTGASSING - plastic parts (especially electronics) outgas toxic compounds which must be cleaned from the airstream. Care must be taken in the choice of construction materials to minimize outgassing. SBR (Soil Bed Reactors) integrated into the CELSS will do the job if the outgassing/load is small to begin with. If not - then we really have a problem: toxic air. ENGINEERS MATERIAL SPECIALISTS TAKE NOTE!
c. PHOTO-PERIODICY IN PLANTS - Some plants can be driven (by light) 24 hours per day. Others require rest/darkness. Some plants need seasons as well as days. Much research needs to be done in this area. So far I have been unable to locate a hand-dandy list of which are which.
d. ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURE CONTROL - Does anyone have any solid ideas how we can HEAT the greenhouse in a dark cold environment without consuming more than 1 kW of electricity per day? Solar heat (if and when available) can be used and stored overnight but that should be considered an "extra" - not to be counted on. The waste heat from the Station's electronics and inhabitants might be efficiently captured and radiated into the greenhouse, especially if the greenhouse encased the Station - "life in a bubble". POST YOUR IDEAS!
e. VITAMIN D SHORTAGE - sources: sunlight on skin, liver, animal oil - Vitamin D shortage (in a sustainable CELSS) could be a disaster. On short term missions we'll bring a bottle of COD LIVER OIL or a tablet substitute. Long term colonization requires a permanent source. Does anyone know a plant or algae source?
f. VITAMIN B12 SHORTAGE - sources: liver, eggs, milk - SAME AS ABOVE
current note: COMFREY contains V-B12. Anyone know another plant?
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NASA has yet to come up with an actual working CELSS good enough to do the job. Bio-Plex and other Moon-Mars style testbeds are super energy intensive and rely heavily on relatively complex chemical-physical systems which require replentishment/replacement of parts. We won't have the luxury of having enough power and/or parts. Fully bioregenerative systems are (potentially) more sustainable and effective in the long run.
TOILETS - Composting/dry toilets are fine in open atmosphere situations but they leak odors/gasses which would accumulate in a closed system, creating another problem which would need another subsystem we would to supply/deal with. A low flush toilet uses about a pint of H2O/flush and maintains an air seal between the CELSS and the habitat. On the other hand, urine is a carrier of sodium chloride (poisonous to many plants) and it might be best to keep the urine stream separate from the feces so this salt problem can be more easily solved - something I've been working on for 2 years now.
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After reading the posted minutes from the last meeting and seeing the photo of those who were present, I must say, "It is a likely looking team! One I could hang out with." Thanks for getting the minutes posted. The photo was a nice extra. I wish I could have been there too. Now, for a few comments:
"The immediate focus of the TTF would be on creating a wastewater treatment system (WWTS) for the Mars Arctic Research Station (MARS) within any of above listed contexts. The TTF decided that this is an important place to start in order to establish the credibility of the TTF within the Mars Society. It was recognized that most attending members have appropriate hard engineering background with practical design experience [Erik, Mindy, Dave] Implementation of any WWTS for the MARS should be as a "platform" on which to add further functional attributes: begin with the WWTS, starting with a partially open water cycle with intent for eventual closure next step would be to add food production following this, add conservation of waste heat finally, address gas dynamics, achieving a materially-closed system."
I think we need to aim for the most integrated system possible. Why shouldn't we close all the material loops from the beginning (water, atmosphere, and waste heat)? This is not as hard as folks might think. Most of the components are already well-studied (in the lab and in the field), What we would be doing is linking/integrating subsystems: creating synergy between them, making each part work BETTER THAN BEING ON ITS OWN. I'm serious. Lab scale experiments are useful (especially when building and testing subsystems) but, when put together into a working whole, the subsystems DO NOT BEHAVE AS THEY DID IN THE LAB! Seriously, I know from my experience designing, constructing, and inhabiting Biostar-A (CELSS tech testbed). I believe that a whole system approach is required from the start. Then, it can be broken down into subsystems which, if constructed/tested in various locations (as long as the dimensions/specs/interfaces are correct) these parts can be assembled into a working whole.
For example: Greenhouse/growspaces accumulate extra heat, water vapor, ethylene, and O2. If the growspace is handling waste water (gray and black) as well as stale habitat air (CO2, trace gasses, water vapor), these substances can be added to those listed above. What do we do with the "stinking atmosphere" composed of the vapors of the above? The answer: RECIRCULATE THROUGH THE PLANT/ALGAE BEDS! We end up feeding the soil microbes, eliminating trace gasses, heating the plant beds (rather than the air), condensing the water vapor, providing "wind" for the plants and aeration for the algae, etc. I know this isn't very detailed a description but I use it to illustrate my point: PLAN IN INTEGRATION FROM THE BEGINNING! I don't mind a bit helping. System synergetics is one of my specialties.
"Mr. Calahan agreed to continue the TTF website updating and maintenance. It was determined that the website will eventually include the following: CVs of TTF members; these will be retained as references for future work Relevant Mars Society papers, and a reading/reference list should be posted Links to other relevant pages, TTF member websites and contact information TTF mission statement, updates and progress reports"
Good stuff. Dean, did you get the links I posted to this group? I can post them again if that would be useful to anyone.
current note: EMAIL ME IF YOU WANT ME TO SEND YOU THE ECOTECHNIC LINKS I"VE ACCUMULATED (unsorted) at biostar_a@yahoo.com
"4.Specific design approach Items discussed: The availability of Arctic sunlight was discussed relative to the question: will a greenhouse-based system be appropriate in the Arctic? The possibility of placing a photometer in Haughton Crater with the next expedition was discussed."
Sunlight in the Arctic sucks. So does sunlight on Mars. Both environments require supplimental lighting. I think we need to design this in as well. Greenhouse in either space are quite a challenge. We are going to need some higher plants but I believe that much of the work (waste treatment, resource recovery, and food production) can be shunted to algae (needs light) and fungi (no light) systems. Yes, we NEED A PHOTOMETER AND DATA LOGGER on site. While we are at it, we should put in a WEATHER STATION (complete with wind speed recorder) because why not erect a wind generator on site for that "extra power" which can come in so handy? Heck! We could do the same on Mars. I have 2 on the roof of Biostar-A. They are powering this computer right now.
"Mr. Micheels confirmed that the MARS design team is indeed interested in a bioregenerative life support system (BLSS) that would be modular, expandable, and attached to outside of MARS station as it is presently envisioned. The BLSS will eventually include water recycling and food production. Mr. Micheels also confirmed that the MARS would not be an atmospherically-closed system. It was immediately recognized that this releases the TTF from certain significant constraints dealing with atmosphere management."
I don't see closing the atmosphere loop as a constraint to be relieved of. It is an essential part of a whole system. I WANT the waste gasses from the habitat so I can feed the CELSS! The hab will produce trace gasses/CO2/water vapor/excess heat. The engineering to eliminate this from the hab (without losing the water vapor and too much heat) and bring in O2/fresh air (without cold) from the Arctic environment is considerable. We might as well just hook up the CELSS - because that is what a CELSS is supposed to do. Feed the CELSS and the CELSS feeds you.
"Mr. Micheels briefly mentioned that there presently exists a press package with over 40 articles from the press worldwide; the TTF decided it might be worthwhile to obtain a copy."
I could sure use one around here. Does anyone else need one? There are plenty of interested folks in my neck of the woods. I would be nice to have something on paper to show them.
"Mr. Micheels indicated that the preliminary drawings of MARS structure should be completed by Feb. 28th detailing location of windows, hatches, etc. However, after erection of the structure on Devon Island this summer, the contractor will deliver a package of as-built drawings. It was recognized by the TTF that these drawings will be important to its efforts for design of attachments and linkage to existing shell perforations."
What is the chance of getting a hard copy (paper) sent this way? Terry R. Kok c/o Starlight Technology, POB, 1328, Bloomington, IN 47402-1328. Those of us without engineering platforms find it hard to read some digitized documents/attachments. I'm NOT a computer wizard nor do I (and some others I believe) have access to an advanced work station. Paper is nice sometimes. Is it possible?
"The TTF agreed on the following design characteristics of the initial MARS WWTS: It will be composed of sequential unit processes; It will contain biological components; It will recirculate water for non-potable use; It will be a platform for expansion into other life support functions."
I have little problem with the sequencial processes (as long as they achieve synergetic linkage) and the biological components are essential. I don't understand the non-potable. Why not? This is easy. The only reason why I'm not drinking my water (but using it for everything else) in Biostar-A is because I don't own a proper test kit. Making non-potable water into potable water is not hard at all as long as we can monitor the output.
"The TTF decided that a comprehensive literature review would be desirable as a review of available technology and to provide a perspective for design in the context of the previously discussed life support paradigms."
I have many scores of books and journals and hundreds of photocopied and filed articles here in Biostar-A but no time to catalog them into a database. If anyone wants to visit for a day or so and database them, that could be arranged.
"The unit process categories to be addressed are as follows: Physico-chemical processes (Blersch, Jacobson) Aerobic and anaerobic reactors (Blersch) Algal based systems (Kangas) Aquatic macrophytes (Kangas) Soil beds (Jacobson) Higher plants/crops (Jacobson) Fixed-film systems (Biermann)"
Keep the rest of us posted on what you discover! What about mushrooms/fungi and yeasts?
"Continue literature review for possible presentation at Mars Society annual conference in Toronto in August;"
I think we should put a major focus on thowing an "after dinner video-slide-discussion" at the next annual conference. I've done it dozens of times (colleges, high schools, space conferences, etc.) and have multiple videos and a slide show on life support/CELSS I could kick things off with if the projection equipment is on hand and other folks do the organizing/networking to get the room scheduled and on the official brochure. Any takers?
One more point for today - A CELSS is useful for sanity as well as life support. Can you imagine being couped up in a tuna can in a hostile environment? From this point, a garden is essential.
Terry R. Kok - Starlight Technology POB 1328, Bloomington, IN 47402-1328 (812) 275-0694 biostar_a@yahoo.com
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This is a group "data needed" list. Feel free to add your query and/or answer and post to Arctic-sig@lists.MarsSociety.org
1) What is/are the MARS electric source(s)? 2) electric: AC or DC or both? 3) electric: at what voltage? 4) How much waste heat will the Habitat generate? 5) Will there be any solvents/chemicals (from science experiments) in the gray/black water stream? 6) How high will the hab waste outlets (black and grey) be from the ground?
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