J. Bunchek in Eden
A robotic arm will assist the astronaut gardeners in their work between the rows of shelves, while cameras and an AI-controlled greenhouse management system will monitor the plants. The unique aspect: This intrafloristry system, tested in Antarctica under the name "Eden ISS," is intended for the man (and woman) on the moon.
The German Aerospace Center's (DLR) Antarctic greenhouse, "Eden ISS," has supplied fresh vegetables for the rotating overwintering crews and summer guests of Neumayer Station III for over four years. With its small overwintering crew and long isolation period, Neumayer Station III provides an excellent analogue environment to space for these types of studies. Antje Boetius, Director of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), explains: "Antarctica is the darkest, coldest, and windiest continent on our planet." Numerous sowings have been completed in recent years, yielding harvests totaling approximately one ton of fresh vegetables for research and to supply the overwintering crews of Neumayer Station III, part of the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI).
At the DLR Institute of Space Systems, repairs, expansions, and upgrades are now underway for a second major test run in preparation for humanity's imminent return to the Moon. The largest test greenhouse for vegetable cultivation in space is slated to be used for training future lunar astronauts. The "Eden ISS" greenhouse will be transformed into "Eden Luna" in the coming months as part of a planned conversion. In the future, astronauts will be able to practice cultivating vegetables, salads, and herbs, as well as the associated techniques and procedures, in the planned test and training facility in Cologne, where the facility will be located.
Since the beginning of 2018, the most extensive long-term testing to date of the largest test greenhouse for the envisioned food production on the Moon and Mars has been taking place 400 meters from the German Antarctic station Neumayer III. This test greenhouse, designed as a closed system, enables harvests independent of weather, sun, and seasons, as well as reduced water consumption and the elimination of pesticides and insecticides. The researchers were able to gather diverse experiences on how human work processes can be ideally and time-savingly integrated, how existing resources can be used ideally, how microbiology is shaped during cultivation and harvesting, and how the cultivation and food supply of fresh vegetables affects the well-being of the isolated crew during overwintering.
“At the start of operations, around three hours of human support per day were needed for maintenance and plant care. Over the course of the project, various potential savings were identified, which will allow future astronauts to spend 40 percent less time keeping such a greenhouse running. Valuable time that they can then use for other activities,” explains Daniel Schubert from the DLR Institute of Space Systems.
In total, there were four cultivation missions at "Eden ISS," with one season used to put the greenhouse into a dormant phase before it was remotely started and operated. Over the entire period, more than one ton (1014 kg) of vegetables, salads, and herbs were freshly harvested. Salads, herbs, cucumbers, and tomatoes, as well as radishes and kohlrabi, grew successfully in the greenhouse from the very first mission. Peppers presented a particular challenge. After some modifications and the selection of a new variety, a satisfactory harvest was achieved for them in the last two greenhouse seasons.
Most recently, NASA visiting scientist Jess Bunchek made a significant impact on the research at the "Eden ISS" greenhouse with her overwintering mission, from which she returned in the spring of 2022. During her mission, she achieved record yields of tomatoes (92 kg) and cucumbers (76 kg). She was also able to harvest 19 kg of peppers.
Yield in Snow and Ice:
During her overwintering mission, Bunchek also successfully cultivated various plants and fruits on the shelf, some of which had even been grown on the International Space Station (ISS), including mustard varieties and lettuces. An "Española Improved" chili pepper added spice and vitamin C to the menu during Bunchek's mission in Antarctica.
For its return transport from Antarctica, the "Eden ISS" greenhouse was temporarily disassembled into its two sub-containers and approximately 1,000 individual components of the greenhouse system and hydroponic plant cultivation. The greenhouse is now undergoing a complete overhaul at the DLR site in Bremen, being equipped with new technology and thus prepared for the training of future lunar astronauts. In the mid-2020s, the greenhouse is scheduled to be integrated into a newly constructed Luna Hall at the DLR site in Cologne. "The Eden Luna greenhouse will become even more digital, networked, and resource-efficient with this conversion," explains Schubert. The Luna test and training facility is a joint project of the DLR and the European Space Agency (ESA), which operates the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne. The DLR institutes for Space Systems, Data Science, Robotics and Mechatronics, and Aerospace Medicine are involved in the greenhouse project.
