Mission Overview
Students become space agriculture engineers, designing sustainable food production systems for long-duration space missions using traditional Caribbean crops. This project integrates space science, plant biology, and engineering to solve real challenges faced by space agencies while celebrating Caribbean agricultural heritage.
Week-by-Week Mission Plan
Week 1: Space Agriculture Research
- • Research current space agriculture projects (ISS, Mars missions)
- • Study Caribbean crops suitable for space cultivation
- • Investigate space environment challenges for plant growth
- • Analyze nutritional requirements for space travelers
- • Interview space agriculture researchers (virtual)
Week 2: Plant Growth Experiments
- • Test Caribbean crop seeds under different light conditions
- • Compare LED vs. natural sunlight for plant growth
- • Measure photosynthesis rates and oxygen production
- • Monitor water and nutrient uptake
- • Document growth data in mission logs
Week 3: Solar-Powered Growing Systems
- • Design hydroponic systems powered by solar panels
- • Build automated watering and lighting systems
- • Create closed-loop nutrient recycling systems
- • Test energy efficiency and crop yields
- • Optimize systems based on performance data
Week 4: Mission Proposal and Presentation
- • Compile growth data and system performance results
- • Create comprehensive mission proposals
- • Design mission timelines and resource requirements
- • Prepare presentations for space agency panel
- • Present findings and receive expert feedback
Assessment Mission Control
Mission Proposal (35%)
Comprehensive proposal including system design, crop selection, and mission timeline
System Design and Testing (30%)
Functional growing system with solar power and data on crop performance
Growth Data Analysis (20%)
Scientific analysis of plant growth under different conditions with graphs and conclusions
Space Agency Presentation (15%)
Clear communication of mission proposal to expert panel
