Report of Lunar Farming Concept Study Working Group 1St
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Report of Lunar Farming Concept Study Working Group 1st (summary version) Lunar Farming Concept Study Working Group June 2019 Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Report of Lunar Farming Concept Study Working Group 1st ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………1 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Motive for establishing the Lunar Farming Concept Study Working Group 1.2. Background 1.3. Method of study 1.4. System of study 1.5. Prerequisites and hypothesis 1.6. Lunar Farming Concept References 2. PAST AND PRESENT OF SPACE FARMING Masanori Shinohara (Professor, Department of Natural & Environmental Science, Faculty of Life & Environmental Sciences, Teikyo University of Science) Sachiko Yano (Associate Senior Engineer, JEM Utilization Center, Human Spaceflight Technology Directorate , JAXA) 2.1. History of space farming 2.2. Use of algae 2.3. Space farming by each country 2.3.1. Russia (including the former Soviet Union) 2.3.2. United States 2.3.3. Europe 2.3.4. Japan 2.3.5. China 2.3.6. Others 2.4. Plant physiology in low-gravity environments 2.5. Results of plant cultivation in the International Space Station Citations 3. SELECTION OF CROP SPECIES Eiji Goto (Professor, Graduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University) Masako Miyamatsu (RD, Shidax Research Institute) 3.1. Nutrition level required by a Japanese person on the moon 3.1.1. Premise of nutrition level required by a Japanese person on the moon 3.1.2. Indicators of energy and nutrients 3.2. Selection of crop candidates to cultivate 3.2.1. Crop production in plant factories 3.2.2. Differences between crop species 3.2.3. Virus-freeing 3.2.4. Traits 3.2.5. Mechanization, robotization, ICT use 3.2.6. Characteristics of the selected candidate crops 3.3. Determination of daily consumption quantity on the Lunar Farm 3.4. Necessary cultivation area 3.5. Nutrients that may be in excess 3.6. Nutrients that may be in shortage 3.7. Image of a meal using the crop species 3.8. Limitations to nutrient intake by ingredients from the crop species alone 3.9. Summary Citations 4. CULTIVATION SYSTEM Yoshiaki Kitaya (Professor, R&D Center for the Plant Factory, Osaka Prefecture University) Hiroyuki Watanabe (Professor, Department of Advanced Food Sciences, College of Agriculture, Tamagawa University) 4.1. Basic points to remember about controlling the crop cultivation environment on the lunar farm 4.1.1. Light environment 4.1.2. Temperature environment 4.1.3. Humidity environment 4.1.4. CO2 environment 4.1.5. Airflow environment 4.1.6. Rhizosphere environment 4.2. Plant cultivation under microgravity in space 4.2.1. Problems in controlling the environment for plant cultivation under space microgravity 4.2.2. The impact that space microgravity has on heat and gas exchange in plant leaves 4.3. Other points to remember about plant cultivation in the space environment 4.4. Function and structure of cultivation system 4.5. Cultivation method/cultivation conditions/management (Attachment) Characteristics of growth/cultivation calendar by crop species References 5. HIGH EFFICIENCY FOOD PRODUCTION Naoshi Kondo (Professor, Division of Environmental Science & Technology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University) Takayuki Ohba (Professor, Laboratory for Future Interdisciplinary Research of Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology) Hiroyuki Ito (Associate Professor, Laboratory for Future Interdisciplinary Research of Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology) Koji Kashima (Asahi Kogyosha Co., Ltd.) KatsuroFukozu(Laboratory for Future Interdisciplinary Research of Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology) 5.1. Common technology 5.2. Cultivation method of each cultivation product 5.3. Division of growth process and appropriate monitoring items for each cultivation product 5.3.1. Rice (batch method) 5.3.2. Soy (batch method) 5.3.3. Sweet potato (continuous method) 5.3.4. Potato (continuous method) 5.3.5. Lettuce (continuous method) 5.3.6. Tomato (multiple shelves) 5.3.7. Cucumber (multiple shelves) 5.3.8. Strawberry (individual) References 6. SUSTAINABLE MATERIAL CIRCULATION SYSTEM Yusuke Nakai (Senior Researcher, Kyushu- Okinawa Agricultural Research Center, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization) Ryosuke Endo (Lecturer,Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University) Shoji Kojima (Agricultural consultant,Shoei Co., Ltd.) Akimasa Nakano (Professor,Chiba University Innovation Management Organization(IMO) Koki Toyota (Professor,Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology) Overview 6.1. Introduction 6.2. Supply of elements when plants are planted on the lunar surface 6.3. A proposal to closure of material-use loop system for crops production in lunar surface 6.3.1. A supposition of substance circulation system 6.3.2. Use of microorganisms and control of proliferation 6.3.3. Circulating use of culture solution 6.4. Substance conversion using microorganisms 6.4.1. Methane fermentation 6.4.2. Composting and use of residual material 6.4.3. Re-use of waste and feces 6.5. Use of lunar surface minerals as resources 6.5.1. Water retention capacity of simulated lunar regolith 6.5.2. Materials that are expected to improve the physical properties of lunar regolith 6.5.3. Crop cultivation test using simulated lunar regolith 6.5.4. Re-use of regolith 6.6. Thermochemical processing 6.7. Future prospects of long-term resource circulation on the lunar surface 6.8. Future challenges References 7. STUDY OF THE LUNAR FARMING SYSTEM Hiroyuki Miyajima (Professor, Department of Clinical Engineering, International University of Health and Welfare) 7.1. Introduction 7.2. Assumptions for the lunar farm design 7.3. Mass balance calculation 7.4. Design of life support system 7.4.1. Procedure for calculation 7.4.2. Configuration of life support system 7.4.3. Biomass production system 7.4.4. Resource regeneration system 7.5. Comparison of system design proposals 7.6. Summary Appendix 7A: Biochemical Stoichiometry Appendix 7B: Equivalent System Mass Appendix 7C: Candidate(s) for life support subsystem technology Reference 8. FUTURE CHALLENGES Secretariat 8.1. Plant cultivation in low-gravity environments 8.2. Instrument configuration, devices 8.3. Facilities such as lighting, air conditioning, etc. 8.4. Seedlings 8.5. Food and resource expansion Citations 9. SUMMARY Secretariat 9.1. Summary of activities of the Lunar Farming Concept Study Working Group 9.1.1. Background of the study 9.1.2. Overall picture of the lunar farm 9.1.3. Cultivation system 9.1.4. High-efficiency food production 9.1.5. Substance circulation system 9.1.6. Other matters to consider 9.2. Achievements of the Space Exploration Innovation Hub 9.3. Final remarks Acknowledgements Secretariat Kazuyoshi Kawasaki, Deputy Director, JAXA Space Exploration Innovation Hub Center Tetsuhito Fuse, Associate Senior Engineer, JAXA Space Exploration Innovation Hub Center Yoshiyuki Takato, Shidax Research Institute Masako Miyamatsu, RD, Shidax Research Institute 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Motive for establishing the Lunar Farming Concept Study Working Group Eight years have passed since the completion of the International Space Station (ISS), and since humans began living in it (establishment of the Working Group), manned space exploration activities have proceeded to the next stage. In other words, we have reached the stage to expand human residence and activity to farther astronomical objects, including the moon. On earth, human activity has expanded into new areas by first exploring, then developing, and finally settling. If you compare current space exploration activities to these steps, we can say that the low orbit around the Earth, where the ISS is located, is in the settlement stage, whereas for the next target, the moon, we are advancing from the exploration stage to the development stage. However, it is also true that development has stagnated globally at this stage for various reasons. In order to overcome this current situation, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency launched the Space Exploration Innovation Hub and commenced measures through further collaboration with ground technology. To be specific, unlike conventional space development that used low orbits and static orbits, JAXA focused on the common point with the earth, that is the “presence of a surface”, to try and realize the “development” of a future base for manned explorations, as well as acquiring new technology that would bring about innovation even on Earth, and not only in space, based on keywords like “Application of excellent agricultural and biotechnology on earth and further technological innovation” and “Local production and local consumption (a self-sufficient space system to minimize supply from the earth as much as possible)”. Expanding the living and activity areas of the human race to other astronomical objects like the moon is expected to lead to the creation of a novel space-use industry, and there is growing debate internationally about the use of resources on the moon and asteroids. In the next 10 to 20 years of space exploration, new businesses are being designed not only for conventional space agencies and related companies, but also for countries and companies that want to conduct activities on the moon. In this way, it is expected that various researchers and engineers, including private companies, will be involved, and the activities will be focused towards exploring the moon and Mars through international collaboration