Towards a Biosphere to Create and Monitor Environmental Conditions The B iosphere O bservation e X periment

Outline I. Previous Existing Biosphere Experiments II. Biological Aspects III. Engineering of the BOX IV. Question

PART I Previous Existing Biosphere Experiments

Bios-3 Beachworld Biosphere 2 Laboratory Biosphere

Previous Existing Biosphere Experiments Bios-3 Bios-1 was constructed in 1965 Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk Modified in 1968 and called Bios , Bios-3 was created  Underground facility split into four sections  Each phytotron uses 20 vertical xenon lamps  Air tanks regulate air pressure  Possibly could not exist on Mars: lightweight, pressurized structure

Previous Existing Biosphere Experiments Beachworld Water-based closed ecological system Sealed enclosures that contain plants and animals snails, crustaceans, and small water- borne animals Animals consume oxygen and produce the by-product carbon dioxide Plants included in the biosphere:  Lilly-like plants called the Chain of Stars.

Previous Existing Biosphere Experiments Biosphere 2 Constructed in Arizona 180,000m 3 closed ecological system Supported both human and plant life for about two years Annual air leakage rate of less than 10% Utilized large lungs to regulate pressure changes due to:  internal humidity, external barometric pressures, temperature Data such as temperature, humidity, light intensity, atmospheric gas concentrations were collected

Previous Existing Biosphere Experiments Laboratory Biosphere First operation in May of 2002 Successful in growing soybean crops from seed to harvest in 94 days Lung to control pressure differentials 100% water recycling by evapotranspiration from the planting beds Air handlers which control humidity and extract moisture Measurements are recorded every fifteen minutes

PART II Biological Aspects

Plant Life Representation, Arabidopsis Thaliana Maximizing Photosynthesis, Minimizing Aerobic Respiration Internal Design and Ecology

Biological Aspects Arabidopsis Thaliana Why this plant ?  Prolific Growth in Small Space  Sprout to Seed in Six Weeks Many Seeds per Fruit  Model Plant Organism For Biological Research

Biological Aspects Maximizing Photosynthesis Three Things Needed: Water, CO 2, and Light Closed System Will Create 100% Humidity  Oxygen Comes From Water Light

Maximizing Photosynthesis Energy Provided By Grow Light  Gives off Red and Blue Spectra CO 2 Needed in Final Step  Final Recipient of Photosynthetic Energy  Excess CO 2 Provided Initially Biological Aspects

Minimizing Aerobic Respiration Reducing Non-Plant Life Forms  All Animals and Insects Use Aerobic Respiration Only allow for Bacteria in Soil  Can Process Heavy Metals to Useable Forms

Biological Aspects Two Areas: One with Soil and Rocks, One With Only Rocks Acrylic Divider and Wedge Internal Design and Ecology Continued

Biological Aspects Internal Design and Ecology Continued Two Sections Allow a Water Cycle Cycle Water Reduces Rotting Condensation Evaporation Soil Drainage

PART III Engineering of the BOX

Benefits of using a small Size Material (The use of a Terrarium) Sealing of the Terrarium Light source Equipment Organization inside the Biosphere Lungs

Engineering of the BOX Why the small size?  Leakage Rate  Observational Area  System Complexity

Engineering of the BOX The Use of a Terrarium Eliminates the exchange of matter Permeability of glass Ideal size for monitoring mentioned data  Size:  Volume: gal

Engineering of the BOX Sealing of the Terrarium POLYMETHYLMETHACRYLATE Qubitac sealant

Engineering of the BOX Light Source Hydrofarm 125 W Fluorescent grow light 6400 k bulb Produces little heat Better color rendering properties Mounted 2 inches above top of Biosphere

Engineering of the BOX Equipment Data logger (HOBO U12) 12 bit resolution High accuracy 64 k memory for 43,000 data points Direct USB connectivity

Engineering of the BOX Equipment Oxygen Sensor (SO-B0-250, Electrovac) Range of 0.1% % the O 2 content Analyzation unit (EDAB-M1, Electrovac) Converts signal from O 2 sensor to a linearized output signal between 0V-2.5V DC. CO 2 Control Wizard Injection System Used to set up initial conditions

Engineering of the BOX Organization Inside the Biosphere Soil placed on top of rocks to avoid rotting of the plant roots. Separator placed inside Biosphere to keep soil from spreading throughout the whole biosphere and disrupting the evaporation cycle. Separator constructed of Acrylic

Engineering of the BOX Organization Inside the Biosphere Fan Solar driven Used to move the air inside the Biosphere so that plants keep cool.

Engineering of the BOX Lungs Pressure differential related to temperature changes Gas Bags (Qubit Systems, G1220) Why use these specific Gas Bags?

Questions ?