Novel Horticultural Approaches for Reduced Gravity and Controlled Environment Agriculture

On July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 achieved the first successful moon landing, marking a significant milestone in human space exploration. This historic moment effectively ended the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union, and since then, countries around the world have continued to advance their space programs. While the space race has evolved, the next major challenge lies in sending humans to Mars—a journey that could take 6 to 9 months each way, presenting numerous challenges, including the critical issue of nutritional sustainment for the crew. This thesis addresses key aspects of a broader effort to support long-duration space missions by designing and testing an insertable root-growth zone in collaboration with NASA’s Ohalo III plant growth chamber. The second chapter focuses on the top surface cover, which plays a critical role in balancing structural, safety, and biological needs to support the full lifecycle of edible crops—from seed to plate. The third chapter investigates the impact of volumetric soil water content on nocturnal transpiration, a crucial factor in managing water fluxes within the plant growth chamber. Understanding these dynamics is essential for resource management during extended space missions. While this research is particularly relevant for reduced gravity environments, the findings have broader implications for controlled environment agriculture systems on Earth, offering potential solutions for sustainable food production in challenging environments.