The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Takenaka Corporation, Kirin Holdings, Chiba University, and the Space Colony Research Center of Tokyo University of Science have stated that "a pest-free farm system that utilizes bag-shaped culture technology and is capable of emergency backup. I am working on "research".This time, we succeeded in a basic test of a space farm system using bag-type culture technology.
This time, we cultivated lettuce plants as a vitamin C source, potato seed potatoes as a carbohydrate source, and soybean seedlings as a protein source.Utilizing the bag-type culture technology developed by Kirin Holdings, it was grown in a small sealed bag.In order to reduce the load due to the pressure difference between the space environment and the earth, we conducted an experiment on growth potential under low pressure environment at Chiba University, and basic confirmation of nutritional component evaluation, mass balance evaluation, feasibility of low pressure cultivation, etc. Was done.
With this technology, it was confirmed that the space farm system could realize both small lot and virus-free seedling supply.In addition, it can be expected that the number of building materials will be reduced by simplifying the structure that regulates the atmospheric pressure in the cultivation equipment.
In addition, the research team used the results of this experiment to estimate the scale of a farm system capable of producing the nutritional components necessary for a small number of people to live, and created an image of a lunar farm model.Assuming a lava tube, it has a normal pressure living area and a low pressure cultivation area inside the moon.
In the future, as the next step, we will work to raise the level of research through industry-academia collaboration in order to realize experiments such as growth in a micro-gravity environment such as the International Space Station.The space farm system being researched this time will be proposed to JAXA, NASA, etc. as a living space for long-term stays.
