Jan 17, 17 / Aqu 17, 01 04:01 UTC

Hydroponics  

Food production is a vital part of any society, even ours. Since we're all busy people, we should make food production an automated process.

Jan 18, 17 / Aqu 18, 01 13:56 UTC

Recent NASA data suggests that aeroponics (spray-based nutrient delivery, as opposed to liquid water based) is both more effective and more sustainable. Hydroponics has a tendency to cause a variety of root-rotting ailments. That said, aeroponics is not without its own issues- specifically, the spray nozzles tend to clog with time- but these issues seem to be technological in nature, which makes them considerably easier to solve.

What are your thoughts, NDean?

Jan 23, 17 / Aqu 23, 01 03:54 UTC

Efficiency is key to any garden, and replacing and de-clogging nozzles is just a price of the job. i love the idea

Jun 10, 17 / Can 21, 01 08:51 UTC

Hi, I believe that the system used by [Link Removed] would be something to base Asgardian hydroponics on.. This isn't an area I know a lot about, so I may be completely off key.

Admin Edit: Unfortunately we have had to remove the link that was provided here due to the site being highly commercialised.  While the topic of hydroponics is most definitely viable here, advertising of commercial is not generally permitted.  Please check our groups Code of Conduct (specifically section 4.b) for further details on this.

Jason Rainbow - 10 June 2017. 

NOOB ERROR:OK, oops. There are interior/underground farms currently in development which control the amount of artificial light and water that crops are exposed to. Not only would this type of thing be viable and ideal, there is the potential to actually increase crop production in comparison to the normal seasonal crop production.  As natural UV light might be an issue due to there being little ability to mitigate solar radiation - I think! 

  Last edited by:  Daniel Hyde (Asgardian)  on Jun 12, 17 / Can 23, 01 21:03 UTC, Total number of edits: 2 times
Reason: Removal of link to Commercial website

Jun 10, 17 / Can 21, 01 21:54 UTC

Honestly I think algae is the way to go you can easily genetically alter them to have better tasts and better nutrition plus it grows quickly an all you need is a tank filled with water and some nutrients along with plenty of red light

Jun 12, 17 / Can 23, 01 21:33 UTC

the issue that you run into with aeroponic nutrient/water delivery systems isn't as simple as clogged nozzles. the main thing you have to think about is "how can we ensure the water vapor from the atomizers doesn't make its way into regular station air supply?" aeroponics is a good idea, you use less water, it's a relatively simple system, and it offers the same growth yield as hydroponics. but it uses mist/vapor, and in space where a simple change in humidity can cause catastrophic damage that poses a significant risk.

Jun 26, 17 / Leo 09, 01 19:08 UTC

My question is: how is water going to get up there in the first place?  Kinda struck me as I did my laundry.  Water is abundant on this planet.  It is *NOT* abundant in space.  How will this be solved if you were to reside permanently in space station in earth orbit?  Is continual transport of water from earth even economically viable?  Just doesn't sound right to me.

Jul 13, 17 / Leo 26, 01 20:17 UTC

PaulCarlton; any long term space station will need water, so the best method would be to bring a large amount of water up initially, then put extremely efficient waste treatment and purification systems in place to reduce overall water loss to the absolute minimum in order to reduce the number of times it will need to be replenished until a better system for replenishment can be put into place (IE extracting it from ice on asteroids, or a more efficient system of bringing cargo to space).