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| spacecraft_bus = DLR Compact Satellite bus<ref name='EuCROPIS Status'/><ref name="eoportal"/>
| spacecraft_bus = DLR Compact Satellite bus<ref name='EuCROPIS Status'/><ref name="eoportal"/>
| manufacturer = [[DLR]]
| manufacturer = [[German Aerospace Center|DLR]]
| launch_mass = {{convert|250|kg|lb|abbr=on}}<ref name="skyrocket"/><ref name="eoportal"/>
| launch_mass = {{convert|250|kg|lb|abbr=on}}<ref name="skyrocket"/><ref name="eoportal"/>
| dry_mass =
| dry_mass =

Revision as of 14:20, 29 November 2018

Eu:CROPIS
Render of the Eu:CROPIS satellite after launch
Mission typeLife sciences research
OperatorGerman Aerospace Center[1]
COSPAR ID2018-099BB Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.43807Edit this on Wikidata
Mission durationPlanned: 1 year [1]
Spacecraft properties
BusDLR Compact Satellite bus[2][3]
ManufacturerDLR
Launch mass250 kg (550 lb)[1][3]
Dimensions1.0 m diameter x 1.13 m length[3]
with panels deployed: 2.88 m wide[3]
Power520 W, 4 solar arrays, Li-ion batteries[1][3]
Start of mission
Launch date1 December 2018
RocketFalcon 9 (Block 5)[4]
Launch siteVandenberg Air Force Base
ContractorSpaceX[5]
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeLow Earth (SSO)
Perigee altitude575 km (357 mi)[3]
Inclination98°[2][3]
Period10 h
EpochPlanned[4]
Transponders
BandS band[3]
 

Eu:CROPIS (Euglena and Combined Regenerative Organic-Food Production in Space) is a German life science satellite developed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and is intended to investigate the possibility of growing plants (specifically tomatoes) in different levels of gravity, such as on the Moon and Mars,[1] as a sustainable food source.

Overview

This orbital mission will simulate and test two greenhouses that could be scaled up and assembled inside a lunar or Martian habitat to provide the crew with a local source of fresh food, while recycling human urine into fertiliser.[5] Some microorganisms will be added to convert synthetic urine into easily digestible fertilisers for the tomatoes. The aim is to develop a stable, closed-loop, bio-regenerative life support system functioning in low gravity.[6]

In more detail, porous lava stones will be fitted in trickle filters and dried soil containing normal soil microbial colonies. Microbes then use nitrite (NO−
2) to convert the harmful ammonia (NH
3) into nitrate (NO−
3), which is then added to six tomato seeds as liquid fertiliser.[5] In addition, the system incorporates a colony of the single-cell microorganism Euglena gracilis, which is a photosynthetic algae able to produce oxygen and biomass while protecting the whole system against high ammonia concentrations.[5][6] This oxygen is necessary for the conversion of urine to nitrate until the photosynthetic oxygen production by the tomatoes is sufficient.[6]

Initially, the spacecraft will replicate lunar gravity on one greenhouse for a period of six months before simulating Martian gravity on the second greenhouse for the next six months.[5] The level of gravity on the Moon (0.16 g) and Mars (0.38 g) are simulated by rotating the spacecraft's cylindrical body around its longitudinal axis.[1] The experiments on different payloads are realized in different positions within the cylinder.[3] Tomato seeds will germinate and plant growth will be monitored with 16 cameras,[5] while radiometers called RAMIS (RAdiation Measurement In Space) will monitor the radiation inside and outside the spacecraft.[5][6]

The greenhouse is made of clear polycarbonate, with an approximate volume of 12 L (730 in3).[6] The closed system features moisture, pH, oxygen, pressure and temperature sensors, and is capable to control these parameters. Four small fans create airflow through a cooling device to maintain a stable "atmospheric" temperature. On top of the greenhouse, three lamps provide light in the correct spectrum for photosynthesis.[6] Scanners and fluorometers measure cell density and photosynthetic yield. The fluids are monitored with seven electrodes to measure ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, pH, chloride, sodium, and potassium.[6]

To monitor the health of Euglena gracilis, the system also analyse the microbes' mRNA to determine which proteins —and therefore which genes— are being commanded into action.[6]

Ojectives

The aim is to develop a stable, and symbiotic biological life support system while being exposed to gravity levels similar to those on the lunar surface as well as the surface of Mars. Both phases of experimentation will last for six months.[6] With water being the only component that has been recycled so far and all other components being extracted and disposed, processing of urine is an issue in human space flight. Eu:CROPIS is intended to examine the possibility of using not only water, but also previously disposed waste to grow fruits and vegetables after proper conversion. Two life support systems (a nitrifying trickle filter system and the single-celled algae Euglena gracilis) within the satellite will be used for producing biomass out of artificial urine in a closed system. Furthermore, the algae Euglena gracilis will protect the biosystem against high levels of ammonia present in urine.[3]

Supporting science payloads

  • PowerCells in Space (Payload 2) intends to measure photosynthesis in algae[7][3]
  • Radiation Measurement in Space (Payload 3) has the goal of collecting data on long-term exposure to cosmic radiation over the course of the space flight[6][3]
  • SCORE (Payload 4) is a technology demonstrator for next generation on-board computing in hardware and software developed by the DLR Institute of Space Systems. It is complemented by a set of three cameras that are commanded via SCORE.[8][3]

Satellite characteristics

Both the satellite and the experiment are called Eu:CROPIS. The satellite features four gyroscopes, two magnetometers, three magnetic torque rods and a sun sensor in combination with a single-frequency Phoenix GPS receiver for attitude control.[3][9] The power for the satellite is provided by an Electrical Power Subsystem, which includes a lithium-ion battery and four deployable fixed solar arrays delivering an average of 520 W of power.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Eu:CROPIS". space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  2. ^ a b Institute of Space Systems, Status Report 2007-2016. (PDF) DLR.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Eu CROPIS - eoPortal Directory - Satellite Missions". directory.eoportal.org. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  4. ^ a b "UNITED STATES COMMERCIAL ELV LAUNCH MANIFEST". sworld.com.au. 2018-09-26. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  5. ^ a b c d e f g DLR. "Eu:CROPIS – Greenhouses for the Moon and Mars". DLR Portal. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Hauslage, Jens; Strauch, Sebastian M.; Eßmann, Olaf; Haag, Ferdinand W. M.; Richter, Peter; Krüger, Julia; Stoltze, Julia; Becker, Ina; Nasir, Adeel (2018-09-26). "Eu:CROPIS – "Euglena gracilis: Combined Regenerative Organic-food Production in Space" - A Space Experiment Testing Biological Life Support Systems Under Lunar And Martian Gravity". Microgravity Science and Technology. doi:10.1007/s12217-018-9654-1. ISSN 0938-0108.
  7. ^ Kovo, Yael (2015-11-09). "PowerCell". NASA. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  8. ^ "Food Production in Space - Operating a Greenhouse in Low Earth Orbit (PDF)". nasaspaceflight.com. 2016-05-20. Retrieved 2018-09-26. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  9. ^ Attitude Control System of the Eu:CROPIS Mission. (PDF) Ansgar Heidecker, Takahiro Kato, Olaf Maibaum, Matthew Hölzel. DLR Institute of Space Systems.
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