The purpose of this project is to determine the effects of microgravity on the growth and health of Bibb lettuce, Lactuca sativa. It was hypothesized that the microgravity environment will cause the Bibb lettuce to have a lower number on the color scale and stunt their growth. This project is significant because in order to live long term in a microgravity environment, it is necessary to know how the microgravity environment of space will affect the health and growth of the food and oxygen source for the inhabitants.
In order to collect date, the researcher need to create a simulated microgravity environment. Using a clinostat, or rotating wheel with compartments to hold plants, it was possible. The clinostat rotates and, in doing so, disorients the plants much like an actual microgravity environment. It was also necessary to create a normal, hydroponics environment. 60 plants were germinated and split into two groups of 30. The data was collected every other day for a week and then 2 1/2 weeks later.
The results indicated that there was no substantial difference between the clinostat and hydroponics groups. The height, color, and leaf count of each living plant were similar throughout the experiment. However, at the 2 1/2 week mark, there were only three remaining plants in the clinostat group. In conclusion, my hypothesis was not supported by my data. The clinostat group's height data was very similar to that of the hydroponics group as was the coloration.
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the process of using light energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. The formula for photosynthesis is 6CO2 + 12H2O ---> C6H12O6 + 6H2O + 6O2, which means six water molecules plus six carbon dioxide molecules produce one molecule of sugar plus six molecules of oxygen. Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts of the plant cell. During the process of photosynthesis, the plant releases oxygen, which is vital to life. As long as the plant gets its required amount of light, it should produce plenty of oxygen.
Hydroponics
Hydroponics is the study of growing plants in materials other than soil. There are several different medias available besides soil including, but not limited to: expanded clay, rockwool, perlite, vermiculite, sand, and gravel. There are also several techniques useful for a hydroponics environment such as passive subirrigation, flood and drain (ebb and flow) subirrigation, top irrigation, and deep water culture.
Medias
Choosing the hydroponics medium is important as all plants need some kind of support. Here are descriptions of the aforementioned medias:
Expanded Clay
Expanded clay is clay baked into different shapes, usually balls or pebbles. They can be reused for multiple plants.
Rockwool
Rockwool is basalt rock, heated at a high temperature and spun into different shapes, usually cubes. It is essential to try not to inhale any part of rockwool as it may carry a health risk.
Perlite
Volcanic rock that has been heated into expanded, light, glass pebbles.
Vermiculite
Similar to perlite, it has been heat until it expanded into pebbles. It also holds more water than perlite.
Sand
Sand is probably one of the least practical choices as a media since it doesn't drain well, can clog up the roots, and had to be sterilized between uses. However, it is cheaper than other medias.
Gravel
If using gravel, wash it before use. It has many advantages, as it's cheap, easy to clean, and won't waterlog.
History of Space Travel
The Beginning
People have been studying our solar system for hundreds of years. However, it wasn't until October 4, 1957 that the "Space Race" between Russia and the United States began, when Russia launched Sputnik 1. Sputnik was about the size of a basketball, weighed 183 lbs, and it orbited the Earth in 98 minutes.
Mercury Project
About a year after the launch of Sputnik, NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) was created and began the first U.S. man-in-space program, known as the Mercury Project. The Mercury Project ran from 1958-1963. Mercury's goals were "to orbit a manned spacecraft around Earth", "to investigate man's ability to function in space", and "to recover both man and spacecraft safely". Mercury's spacecraft resembled a cone with a cylinder mounted upon it. Mercury's astronauts were Alan Shepard, Virgil "Gus" Grissom, John Glenn, M. Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra, and L. Gordon Cooper.
Gemini Project
The Gemnini Project started in January of 1962. It's goal were "to subject man and equipment to space flight up to two weeks in duration", "to rendezvous and dock with orbiting vehicles and to manuever the docked combination by using the target vehicle's propulsion system", and "to perfect methods of entering the atmospher and landing at a pre-selected point on land".
Apollo Program
The Apollo Program's goals were to "establish the technology to meet other national interests in space", "achieve preeminence in space for the United States". "carry pit a program of scientific exploration of the moon", and "develop man's capability to work in the lunar environment".
Apollo-Soyuz Program
The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project was meant to "test the compatibility of rendezvous and docking systems for American and Soviet craft." The program used the American's Apollo spacecrafy and Russia Soyuz spacecraft, hence the name of the project.
Skylab
The point of the Skylab Space Station project was to prove humans could live in space for long periods of time and to advance our knowledge of solar astronomy. The first Skylab was unmanned. The second Skylab mission ran from May 25, 1973 - June 22, 1973, a total of 28 days, with Commander Charles Conrad, Pilot Paul Weitz, and Scientist Joseph Kerwin. The third Skylab mission ran from July 28, 1973 - September 25, 1973, a total of 59 days, with Commander Alan Beran, Pilot Jack Lousma, and Scientist Owen Garriot. The final Skylab mission ran from November 16, 1973 - February 8, 1974, a total of 84 days, with Commander Gerald Carr, Pilot William Rogue, and Scientist Edward Gibson.
Mir
Mir Space Station was launched February 20, 1986. It reentered on March 23, 2001.
Microgravity
Microgravity is not the absence of gravity but is reduced gravity, as in Mars. Microgravity is simply any environment with less gravity than that of Earth's. However, microgravity doesn't just exist outside of Earth. On Earth, it is possible to create brief instances of microgravity. When roller coasters move in a steady up and down patterns, called parabolas, they create seconds of microgravity with each fall. This is the same philosophy used by NASA researchers to create the "Vomit Comet."
Terraformation
The terraformation of Mars now has a chance of becoming a reality. The current annual temperature of Mars is -55 degrees Celsius, much too cold for human habitation. At one NASA-sponsored conference, several ideas were thrown around. One highly possible solution came from Margarita Marinova, who was an undergraduate student at MIT at the time. Marinova suggested using perfluorocarbons (PFCs) to help initiate the planet's warming process. Marinova has studied the effect of PFCs, in partnership with Chris McKay of NASA's Astrobiology Institute. There are several advantages to using PFCs. They are considered super-greenhouse gases, so a small amount would warm the planet significantly. PFCs also have a long lifespan and they don't have any negative effects of living organisms. In addition, PFCs don't destroy ozone.
Lettuce
Bibb Lettuce is a loose-headed type lettuce. When healthy, it has bright green leaves. Bibb lettuce will become bitter if temperatures rise above 95 degrees Fahrenheit.`
