The Advanced Plant Habitat (APH) is a state-of-the-art plant growth facility designed to conduct plant research in the unique environment of space. Developed by NASA in collaboration with Orbital Technologies Corporation (now Sierra Space), the APH provides scientists with valuable insights into plant growth and responses to microgravity.
The APH is a fully enclosed, closed-loop system featuring an environmentally controlled growth chamber. Within this chamber, the plants can be exposed to varied intensities of red, blue, green, and white wavelengths provided by tunable LEDs. The system incorporates over 180 sensors that continuously monitor crucial parameters such as temperature, oxygen content, and moisture at various points within the APH. Real-time data from these sensors allow the payload teams at Kennedy Space Center to control and analyze the APH.
The growth chamber of the APH boasts impressive specifications. The lighting system provides a photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) ranging from 0 to 1000 μmol m-2 s-1 (measured 10 cm from the surface of the LEDs), with precise control over red, blue, green, white, and far-red light wavelengths. The system also ensures uniformity in light distribution, with a tolerance of ±15%. The APH maintains relative humidity levels between 50% and 86% and controls carbon dioxide levels between 400 and 5000 ppm.
The APH's numerous sensors enable precise control of environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide levels, light quality and quantity, and photoperiod. The system provides necessary nutrients to the plants and can recycle plant-transpired water. It also features advanced filtration systems to keep the growth volume free from volatile contaminants. Multiple cameras track plant growth and development, while the measurement of water and carbon dioxide uptake allows for the study of vital physiological processes.
The Advanced Plant Habitat incorporates various components to create its advanced growth environment. These include the structural mounting assembly, air filtration assembly, plant habitat facility kits (comprising hoses, water bags, and syringes), science carrier trays, a growth chamber enclosure, environmental control systems, fluid international sub-rack interface standard drawers, orbital replacement unit component drawers, and a growth light assembly. Additionally, the APH has a top-down, side view, and infrared cameras, which can be programmed to take periodic images.
The system was developed and built by NASA and ORBITEC (Sierra Space), with processing taking place at Kennedy Space Center.
The APH is approximately the size of a mini-fridge, measuring 0.2 m2 by 0.4 m tall, providing a maximum shoot height of 45 cm, a root zone height of 5 cm, a growth area of 1,708 cm2, and a growth volume of 112,500 cm3. It is the largest plant growth chamber ever flown in space, providing ample space for plant growth and research.
<aside> ⏱️ The Advanced Plant Habitat has served on the International Space Station since April 2017. Designed primarily for basic plant research in microgravity, the APH has been instrumental in studying plant responses to the spaceflight environment.
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The APH facilitates research on various plant species, including Arabidopsis, dwarf wheat, radish, Hatch Chili Peppers, and cotton cell cultures. Additionally, the crew onboard the International Space Station has tasted APH-grown edible crops, showcasing the potential for food production in space.
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The Advanced Plant Habitat represents a significant advancement in our understanding of plant biology in space. It plays a crucial role in developing food systems for long-duration space missions and future space exploration.