Plant-rated greenhouses

Bruce A. Mackenzie*, David C. Dunand

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Plants can live at much lower pressure than people (Refs. 3, 9). Green-houses for the Moon, Mars or orbit could be optimized for maximum plant growth and minimum structural mass if people do not enter the greenhouse. Such "plant-rated" greenhouses would have lower pressure, higher carbon dioxide content, less stringent radiation protection and lower safety margins than human-rated habitats. These allow for simpler, lighter, and cheaper structural designs. To avoid the need for people to work in the greenhouse in pressure suits, plants would be carried by automated transporters through an airlock into a human-rated shelter where people may safely tend, harvest and replant them.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)273-280
Number of pages8
JournalScience and Technology Series
Volume90
StatePublished - 1997

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aerospace Engineering

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