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Solid-support substrates for plant growth at a lunar baseZeoponics is only in its developmental stages at the Johnson Space Center and is defined as the cultivation of plants in zeolite substrates that contain several essential plant growth cations on their exchange sites, and have minor amounts of mineral phases and/or anion-exchange resins that supply essential plant growth anions. Zeolites are hydrated aluminosilicates of alkali and alkaline earth cations with the ability to exchange most of their constituent exchange cations as well as hydrate/dehydrate without change to their structural framework. Because zeolites have extremely high cation exchange capabilities, they are very attractive media for plant growth. It is possible to partially or fully saturate plant-essential cations on zeolites. Zeoponic systems will probably have their greatest applications at planetary bases (e.g., lunar bases). Lunar raw materials will have to be located that are suited for the synthesis of zeolites and other exchange resings. Lunar 'soil' simulants have been or are being prepared for zeolite/smectite synthesis and 'soil' dissolution studies.
Document ID
19910022486
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Ming, D. W. (NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX., United States)
Galindo, C. (Lockheed Engineering and Sciences Co. Houston, TX., United States)
Henninger, D. L. (NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
March 1, 1990
Publication Information
Publication: NASA. Ames Research Center, Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems: CELSS '89 Workshop
Subject Category
Man/System Technology And Life Support
Accession Number
91N31800
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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