NASA Quest Space Team Online QuestChat

Date: September 26, 2001

Featuring: Greg Goins

[ Lori/NASAChatHost - 5 - 21:50:05 ]
You may go ahead and place questions in the chatroom now to be answered during the webchat. Please don't post test messages or repeats -- though you may not see your question, it is in the chatroom. Again, PLEASE do not repeat your questions. Enjoy the chat :-)

[ Lori/NASAChatHost - 8 - 09:41:01 ]
Hello to our early arriving chat participants! If you haven't read Greg Goins' bio yet, you still have some time before we get started. You can find it at: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/people/bios/space/goins.html. We will start in about 20 minutes.

[ Lori/NASAChatHost - 9 - 09:59:59 ]
We are ready to begin our webchat with Greg Goins from the Kennedy Space Center!

[ GregGoins/KSC - 10 - 10:01:44 ]
Hello All. I am Greg Goins. As you read from my bio, I am a research scientist at Kennedy Space Center working to grow plants on Mars one day.

[ Lori/NASAChatHost - 11 - 10:01:59 ]
Welcome Greg & thanks for taking the time to share a little about what you do at NASA with us today :-)

[ GregGoins/KSC - 16 - 10:04:34 ]
RE: [Laurie] Why do you use potatoes?
Potatoes are one of the favorite choices for plants in space because they are nutritious, they grow fast, and produce a lot of potatoes in a fairly small amount of area.

[ GregGoins/KSC - 18 - 10:06:25 ]
RE: [Madelyn] Do you decide what to research, if not who does?
That is a good question. NASA determines the overall goal of the research and the type of research tasks that we complete. However, as a scientist I am free to determine the best method to get answers to scientific problems.

[ GregGoins/KSC - 21 - 10:09:05 ]
RE: [Meri/NASAClassroomOfTheFuture] Hi, Greg- Could you describe one or two of the plant experiments you're working on and how they will help provide life support to Astronauts on future space missions? What characteristics of plants does NASA consider most critical for a plant selected to be grown on board a space mission? Thanks!
The experiments I am working on now include future studies for growing plants on Space Station. I am trying to determine the best way to provide light, nutrients, and water for plants in microgravity. Since Mars has 1/3 the gravity of earth we can use other stuff for that as well.

[ Lori/NASAChatHost - 22 - 10:09:45 ]
This chat room is moderated, so if you don't see your question right away don't worry. I am adding them to the room a few at a time. NONE have been lost :-)

[ GregGoins/KSC - 24 - 10:11:35 ]
RE: [BeatrizHernandezWYESRColombia] Hope not to be so silly...but I really want to know the benefits of testing potatoes, sweet potatoes and all this you say in 0G.
I like your question. There is no machine you can plug in the wall to make food. Plants are the only way as humans we can supply food for a very long mission. Such as a two-year mission to Mars. Not only do plants provide food, plants help purify the air (remove carbon dioxide) and water.

[ GregGoins/KSC - 27 - 10:13:33 ]
RE: [Misty] What would it take to make a space habitat use plants as its primary source of oxygen? A huge structure, certain kinds of plants?
You could have a growth chamber the size of a large refrigerator to supply enough oxygen for a human, given that the plants are healthy and the human is consuming normal amounts of oxygen

[ GregGoins/KSC - 30 - 10:15:44 ]
RE: [Michael] The Great Plains were built up by the grow and burn cycle of grasslands. We also know that the grass is always greener over the septic tank, to quote Erma Bombeck. Might we take advantage of both of these phenomenon and cycle human waste and food/plant compost to areas where grass is grown hydroponicaly, then periodically burn the grass and compost to provide nutrients for the production of vegetables and grains?
You are exactly right. We in fact routinely recycle the inedible part of the plant biomass through bioreactors and composters. We then reuse the mineral elements in the next hydroponic experiment. However, burning stuff in space usually is not a good idea because remember that fire uses up a lot of oxygen too.

[ GregGoins/KSC - 31 - 10:17:21 ]
RE: [Thomas] What is brassica?
Brassica is the genus of a family of plants that is the same as cabbage. It is small and flowers quickly so you can grow it in a short period of time to get full life cycle information. As little as 3 weeks!

[ GregGoins/KSC - 33 - 10:19:55 ]
RE: [Brandy] How do you water a plant in space - in a microgravity environment? How does the water stay in the plant soil?
With no gravity or "microgravity", the best method to grow plants is using microporous tubes with a negative (suction) pressure. In other words, the slight amount of suction on the water in the tubes keeps excess water from leaking out. However, the strong capillary forces of water allow plant roots and soil to wick or pull out the nutrients for the plants to grow. Sort of like a baby using a baby bottle.

[ GregGoins/KSC - 34 - 10:21:06 ]
RE: [Mike] When can we expect to see some of the space crops actually fly on space station?
There is a wheat experiment that I in involved in, which is scheduled to be put aboard the Space Station starting February 2002. Stay tuned.

[ GregGoins/KSC - 37 - 10:23:29 ]
RE: [jackie] What temperature would plants in space be exposed to?
In space, we will grow plants in greenhouses or growth chambers where the environment is controlled to whatever temperature that the energy budget for that mission will allow. Typically plants will be maintained between 18 to 28 deg C. However, it depends on the plant type and the experiment.

[ GregGoins/KSC - 40 - 10:25:54 ]
RE: [Michael] Are you familiar with the indirect channelling of sunlight through fiber optics? I believe the Japanese use this for lighting and for the production of the largest hydroponic tomato plant ever grown.
Yes, we work with fiber optics, light pipes, holographic diffusers, etc. However, the efficiency for most devices is quite low to be effectively used presently. There has been a lot of advances in recent years though. I envision us using this technology a great deal on Mars to channel light to "Martian" greenhouses.

[ GregGoins/KSC - 42 - 10:29:33 ]
RE: [Meri] What are some of the types of equipment and chambers you use in your experiments to grow the plants and gather data?
The growth chambers for ground control experiments are commercial types like at universities. They are typically about four square meters in growth area with fans and lighting. For space applications, NASA selects proposals for companies to build growth chambers to fit on the "EXPRESS" racks on space station. Those chambers have to have a very specific mass, acoustics, and power budget, while meeting all necessary safety standards to be flown on Space Shuttle and then transported over the Station.

[ GregGoins/KSC - 43 - 10:30:46 ]
RE: [Sherri] During the webcast last week, they said something about different color lights. What color lights to plants grow best under?
Plants are green. Therefore they reflect green light. However, they absorb red and blue light and use those colors to grow through a process called photosynthesis.

[ GregGoins/KSC - 45 - 10:32:37 ]
RE: [Angela/PASpaceGrantConsortium] Has NASA flown second generation seeds in space that were originally germinated in space? If so, what is the outcome?
Yes, there have been brassica and wheat plants grown in space (on the Russian MIR project), then allowed to produce seed, and replanted, and produced seed again, without ever been returned to earth.

[ GregGoins/KSC - 48 - 10:35:12 ]
RE: [Brandy] Is there a psychological value to having plants in space?
I have been told personally by several astronauts who have been on MIR and Space Station that plants definitely add to the well-being of the crew. Plants remind the crew of "mother earth" The plants on MIR were very well regarded, to the point of being thought of as "crew members" by the cosmonauts.

[ Lori/NASAChatHost - 49 - 10:35:52 ]
RE: [Meri/NASAClassroomOfTheFuture] There is a student version of the ISS wheat experiment (PESTO) called Farming in Space. We are looking for classes to participate in the activity. There is a Plant Production Simulator there, too, that gives some food and oxygen data given to us by KSC scientists. Visit this Website for details: http://www.cotf.edu/iss/activities/farminspace.asp
NASA's Classroom of the Future is looking for participants :-) Sounds cool!!

[ GregGoins/KSC - 52 - 10:36:56 ]
RE: [Michael] What are the prospects for "farm stations" orbiting the earth or at L-5 which would receive waste from other human space settlements, craft and science stations and grow crops and livestock in space? Such stations would have to be large enough to actually produce a wide range of food and to have spin put on them so that gravity could be maintained for the comfort of the livestock. Might this be a project for a commercial space venture (say with Lockheed Martin and Iowa State University)?
A very good question. The bottom line which will determine the feasibility of orbiting farms is the energy cost to produce light and the efficiency of recycling wastes. Animal husbandry tends to be inefficient because they are secondary consumers, compared to plants which are primary consumers.

[ GregGoins/KSC - 53 - 10:39:24 ]
RE: [Anna] How will your research benefit us here on earth?
Our research helps people on Earth understand how to better recycle waste (or recover resources) and how to be better stewards of earth resources in general. For instance we are able to achieve five times the world record wheat yield and still recycle the nutrients for the next crop.

[ GregGoins/KSC - 57 - 10:41:56 ]
RE: [Michael] What are the requirements to be a program manager in your center? Are there positions for non-science types?
Kennedy Space Center has requirements for all types of careers, including medical doctors, engineers, computer programers, business administration etc. In order to become a manager, you have to show leadership qualities and be willing to do the work accurately yourself that others are instructed to do.

[ GregGoins/KSC - 58 - 10:43:37 ]
RE: [Meri] Will some of your plant experiments be conducted on International Space Station?
Yes, however the things I work on could potentially be used for all plant experiments, since plants always need light, water, and nutrients.

[ GregGoins/KSC - 59 - 10:45:06 ]
RE: [Jackie] What did you mean by animals being secondary consumers as to plants which are primary consumers?
A primary consumer is an organism that is able to chemically make its own food source, without needing to consume another organism. A secondary consumer needs to consume other organisms for energy.

[ GregGoins/KSC - 61 - 10:47:00 ]
RE: [Meri] Greg, can you think of one specific plant that is superior to all others in terms of providing nutrition (e.g., a certain kind of potato)? How about in terms of supplying oxygen and removing carbon dioxide?
Good question. The best plant we have for providing the most food, water, and oxygen is wheat. This is because wheat can absorb and tolerate very high light levels (without bleaching itself). Most plants are "sun" burned when put under very high light levels.

[ GregGoins/KSC - 64 - 10:50:04 ]
RE: [Michael] How do you plan to purify human waste? Is using it as food for grass and then putting that grass in bioreactors being considered? Also, how does a bioreactor work?
Yes, and the bioreactor works by us inoculating the mixture with the correct dose of microorganisms which are able to break down the waste material. However, our bioreactors are tightly controlled in terms of moisture, temp, oxygen and CO2 so that the microorganisms can work at their optimal level.

[ GregGoins/KSC - 65 - 10:51:27 ]
RE: [Angela/PASpaceGrantConsortium] You mentioned that NASA has achieved 5 times the world record wheat yield--did this growth occur in space? If so, during what time span?
The record wheat yield I mentioned was achieved in NASA research in chambers on earth. However, experiments in space have shown there is nothing holding us back from achieving this in space, given there is enough light energy available.

[ GregGoins/KSC - 68 - 10:53:38 ]
RE: [Lyla] What types of nutrients are used in hydroponics?
Phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen, sulfur, magnesium, calcium and many more minerals in trace amounts such as iron, manganese, copper etc. Look up the word "Hoagland's Solution" on the Internet, and you will find a general hydroponic recipe.

[ GregGoins/KSC - 69 - 10:55:25 ]
RE: [Thomas] why do you use wheat potatoes & sweet potatoes? Are they easiest to grow? Do they grow extra fast?
Yes they grow fast, and are very good in terms of providing nutritious calories without harmful trace minerals.

[ GregGoins/KSC - 70 - 10:58:13 ]
RE: [Michael] What are the prospects for simply producing artificial low-carbohydrate meat substitutes? I've read that something called a yeast steak is possible, or is this just science fiction? How would the texture of meat be duplicated? Is "spinning" meat-substitute fiber possible, which could be woven into the shape of a steak? How might fat be added (as fat is an essential nutrient)?
I am not a vegetarian, so yes, a meat substitute would be welcomed. There has been some work at NASA on coupling fish with the hydroponic plants with some success. I am not very familiar with the yeast research. However, I heard there has been some success in that arena.

[ Meri/NASAClassroomOfTheFuture - 71 - 10:59:08 ]
Thanks so much for sharing your expertise, Greg!

[ Lori/NASAChatHost - 72 - 11:00:06 ]
I think Greg is answering the last question, as our time is up for today.

[ GregGoins/KSC - 73 - 11:02:09 ]
RE: [Michael] I would think light wouldn't be a problem in space, provided the orbit is high enough - but not too high so that delivery to LEO habitations are inefficient (though for an L-5 station - light would never be a problem). What would be more efficient, having livestock in a large space station which remains in an orbit convenient to whatever habitation it serves (and possibly stocking a mission to Mars with frozen meat) or hauling it from earth through the gravity well? Also, might some choose to settle and farm in space?
Light is a huge problem in space. For instance, on the moon there are weeks of darkness at a time, on Mars there are frequent dust storms. Not only this, you have to protect yourself from severe cosmic radiation while trying to capture the visible light from the sun. However, your thinking is the right type of futuristic attitude that NASA is actively pursuing in the Advanced Concepts Area. Look in the ASTROBIOLOGY websites within NASA for more information. I like your questions very much.

[ Lori/NASAChatHost - 74 - 11:02:35 ]
I want to thank all our participants today for their GREAT questions!! It was obvious you did your research before the chat started. I would also like to thank Greg Goins for taking the time today to share with us what he does at KSC. Join us tomorrow for our webchat with Carlton Hall. Have a great day all :-)

[ GregGoins/KSC - 75 - 11:03:38 ]
Thank you all for the excellent questions. I hope you all enjoyed this webchat as much as I did. Keep up the excellent work. Good-bye.

[ Lori/NASAChatHost - 76 - 11:04:22 ]
Thanks everyone!!