Solid Substrate Nutrient Delivery System

The Nutrient Delivery System is designed to precisely control the delivery of water and nutrients to the root zone of plants in a controlled growth environment.  Using porous stainless steel or ceramic tubes surrounded by arcillite, the water in the root module is fully contained for use in a microgravity environment.  The amount of water available to the plants is controlled by a negative pressure head placed on the water in the porous tubes.  Along with moisture control the root zone temperature is monitored by a temperature probe placed in the root zone media. 
 

Root zone volume .................................................................................................................................................... 7" x 5.75" x 1.4"

Substrate .................................................................................................................................................. arcillite (1.0mm – 2.0mm)

Water metering .............................................................................................................................................................. +/- 0.3 ml

Active pressure control ............................................................................................................................................. user selectable

Root zone temperature monitoring

Designed for a variety of plants.

•  Flight-tested on wheat, Brassica.

•  Ground tested with Arabidopsis and other species.

Optional configurations: Ceramic porous tubes, thin-film system, water injector delivery, nutrient delivery controlled by TMAS. 
 

• Biomass Production System & Science Evaluation Unit
• Future Biomass Production System & Plant Research Unit flights
• Modifiable to accommodate future space flight and ground based research applications