Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Graduate
Project Type
group
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Collin Topolski, Graduate Mitchell Villafania, Senior Paulina Slick, Junior Ella Rowe, Junior Parker Mann, Junior
Lead Presenter's Name
Collin Topolski
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Engineering
Faculty Mentor Name
Hugo Castillo
Abstract
With NASA’s current plans to establish a permanent base on the Moon, it becomes vital to develop strategies for improving the life support systems through in-situ resource utilization. A key limitation of existing systems is that most food is provided through resupply missions while plant production capabilities limited in scale. Instead, Moon regolith contains many essential elements that are vital for plant growth and the remainder could be supplemented with waste products from humans or plants. Additionally, including microbial communities can aid the availability of nutrients in the substrate, similar to traditional farming practices.
This work aims to identify the impacts of mixing manure with lunar regolith simulant on plant development. One experiment will utilize a 2D clinostat to study Mizuna Mustard under simulated microgravity. Alternatively, another experiment will reincorporate inedible biomass from Mizuna in standard gravity conditions over successive growth cycles to identify the potential of forming Moon-based soil. Changes in microbial communities and their effect on plant growth will be evaluated via measuring the plants' physical characteristics, soil composition, and molecular microbial profile. These results will add to the growing study of space microbial ecology and provide relevant knowledge for future missions to the Moon and beyond.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
Towards the formation of Moon soil: Mizuna mustard (Brassica rapa var japonica) developmental impacts in simulated lunar conditions and compost supplementation
With NASA’s current plans to establish a permanent base on the Moon, it becomes vital to develop strategies for improving the life support systems through in-situ resource utilization. A key limitation of existing systems is that most food is provided through resupply missions while plant production capabilities limited in scale. Instead, Moon regolith contains many essential elements that are vital for plant growth and the remainder could be supplemented with waste products from humans or plants. Additionally, including microbial communities can aid the availability of nutrients in the substrate, similar to traditional farming practices.
This work aims to identify the impacts of mixing manure with lunar regolith simulant on plant development. One experiment will utilize a 2D clinostat to study Mizuna Mustard under simulated microgravity. Alternatively, another experiment will reincorporate inedible biomass from Mizuna in standard gravity conditions over successive growth cycles to identify the potential of forming Moon-based soil. Changes in microbial communities and their effect on plant growth will be evaluated via measuring the plants' physical characteristics, soil composition, and molecular microbial profile. These results will add to the growing study of space microbial ecology and provide relevant knowledge for future missions to the Moon and beyond.