German Aerospace Center (DLR)

The EDEN lnitiative - Overview of DLR's Life SupportSystems Developments utilizing Higher Plant Cultivation

Daniel SchubertInstitute of Space Systems

22. May 2014

EDEN Research Team :

• Founded in 2011 @ the DLR lnstitute of Space Systems(Bremen)

• System Analysis & Systems Engineering in the domainof Human Space Flight

• lnvestigation of Greenhouse Modules (GHM) andhabitats (incl. crew)

• Development of Contro Iled Environment Agriculture(CEA) Technologies

• EDEN Group: • - 3 x Staff Members• 1 x Post doc (Marie Curie)• 1 x PhD Candidate (ESA NPI)• up to 5 students

EDEN

DLR lnstitute of Space Systems

Project lnvolvements

• CROP (DLR internal)• Greenhouse Technology Reseach

• Lunar Greenhouse Module Design Study - ESA-MELiSSA• Phase-A Design far Lunar greenhouse

M A!NU NAHC lR EGOU TH A RAMI>

• ESA Project SCALISS (Scaling of Life Support Systems) - TAS-ltaly• Functional overview of LSS

• German Trainee position at ESTEC (MELiSSA)• Support of MELiSSA Group with German post graduates

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C.R.O.P.Combined Regenerative Organic-food Production

C.R.O.P.

• Joint project between DLR Cologne & Bremen• Transformation of urine & bio waste• Production of fresh food (plants & fish)• EU:CROPIS Satellite => CROP as payload

EU:CROPIS (CE-Study)Fruits & Vegetables

Project lnvolvements

• CROP (DLR internal)• Greenhouse Technology Reseach

• Lunar Greenhouse Module Design Study - ESA-MELiSSA• Phase-A Design far Lunar greenhouse

M A!NU NAHC lR EGOU TH A RAMI>

• ESA Project SCALISS (Scaling of Life Support Systems) - TAS-ltaly• Functional overview of LSS

• German Trainee position at ESTEC (MELiSSA)• Support of MELiSSA Group with German post graduates

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::: : : : : :OFt SOlA."tPV .. (,---, .

EDEN LAB

Space Habitation Plant Laboratory

· CEA Hardware development(Breadboard Level)

· Plant Accommodation Tests· Pre- & Post Processing

The Workshop

• Mechnica l &: ElectronicWork BenchH

• f)(per lment Set·ups• Li 'bv iew Progr.-mmlng

StaUon

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Analyt ics Room

· Nutrient Solu tions· Bio Analysis· Pre·& Post Processlng

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EDEN-l<!boratory Layou t

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WORKSHOP

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Closed-loop ROOM

EDEN-Laboratory Layout:

Werktisch Zelt #1 Zelt #2

8Holzregal

LAN

The Wor kshop

• Mechnical & ElectronicWork Benches

• Experiment Set-ups• Labview Programming

Station

Analy t ics Room

• Drying Oven• Seed Database• Nut r ient Solu t ions• Bio Analysis• Pre- & Post Processing

Closed-loop ROOM

• Bio clean Room• CEATech. testing• Teleoperation Tests • • - ... . . . .l'><.i.; . . .

Heat exchangerto the outside

5 x Grow Tents (NDS/LED testing)

4 x Grow Chambers (Air/LED testing)

First C.E.A. Experi ments

l l lum inat ion Experiments (LED)

Research Scope:• High Performance LEDs• PAR speciflc hght rec1pes• lntra·Canopy s1ra1eg1es• Ac11ve Coolm g systems

Hrf -op a tO p;mc l

First C.E.A.Experiments

Air Mgmt . Experiments

Research Scope:• Water recavery• Ethylene gasseparatoon· C02 OJecton· Air punfica:ion

Nutr ient Delivery System

Research Scope:• Multi d•stnbu11onsystems• Aeroponics• (lon-selecuve sensorsJ

Hlgh pressure Mis t rs

Air Mgmt. Experiments

Research Scope:• Water recovery• Ethylene gas separation• C02 injection• Air purification

Cooling Coil & UV Sterilizat ion

lnit ial Air Mgmt. System

lllumination Exper iments (LED)Research Scope:

• High Performance LEDs• PAR specific Iight recipes• lntra-Canopy strategies• Active Cooling systems

heliospectra

Water-cooled LED Panels Heliospectra LED panel

• A I • I I • - . - . . - 1

Nutrient Delivery System

Research Scope:• Multi-distribution systems• Aeroponics• (lon-selective sensors)

Nurtient Delivery System - Breadboard

Lettuce roots within EDEN Lab High pressure Misters

Lettuce cultivation experiments- with Aeroponics

Drwaft Appie trees in Aeroponics (MasterStudent project)

3 level - grow pallet set up

Market A.nJ1olysis Grecnhot1seMo d ulu indudlng CfATechnologiitt Feasibil1ty Study:

Vertiud Fam1EDEN

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Terrestrial Applications

• CEATechnologies far Earth

• Marktanalysis in 2012• Remote Farming, Urban Agriculture ,

Molecular Farming, Home Farming, ...

• Feasibility study "Vertical Farming"

Market Analysis: CEA-Technologi es Feasib il i ty study "Vertical Farming" Vertical Farming EDEN

Ana logue Testing & OutreachActivities• Severa! Analogue Missions (MDRS, Hi-SEAS)

• Simplified plant experiments

• Orbitec Cooperation => VEGGIE (=> Hi-SEAS)

• Public Engagement Activity (=> Bottle Crop,DLR School Lab

Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS)

VEGGIE - Demonstration Unit

Hi-SEAS at Hawaii

• EDEN ISS (COMPET-7) Proposal

• Neumayer-Station lii

• 2 x 20' Containers

=> Paul's presentation (Session:Analogue Testing)

Conclusion & Summa ry• EDEN Research lnitiative (since 2011)

• System Analysis on Greenhouse Systems

• CEATechnology Developments (LED;Air Mgmt.;NDS)

• EDEN Lab => Almost finished the built-up phase

• Analogue Testing => Antarctic Greenhouse Module

• Terrestrial applications => Vertical Farming

• Theory-to-Reality Challenge

EDEN