The Arthur C. Clarke Mars Greenhouse: An Analog Experience ... · The Arthur C. Clarke Mars...

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The Arthur C. Clarke Mars Greenhouse: An Analog Experience on Devon Island 1 1,2 1 3 Thomas Graham , Alain Berinstain , Michael Dixon ,Stephen Braham 1 2 3 University of Guelph, Environmental Biology, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. N1G 2W1; Canadian Space Agency, 6767 Route de l’Aeroport, Saint-Hubert, Quebec, J3Y 8Y9; Simon Fraser University, Harbour Centre Campus, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. V6B 5K3 Overview & Objectives Despite its remoteness, Devon Island (figure 1) is host to an intense Mars analog research program. Two features of Devon Island make it an excellent Mars analog research site: 1) The Haughton Crater: A 23 million year old impact crater representative of impact structures throughout the solar system 2) Polar Desert : The desert climate has preserved the impact features of Haughton crater. This polar landscape shares many features with the Martian surface (dry, rocky, life is sparse?) During the short Arctic summer, an international contingent of space scientists and engineers gather to conduct research at Haughton crater (figure 1 inset). In an effort to bolster Canada’s contribution to this research effort, and to build upon our expertise in biologically based life support, the Arthur C. Clarke Mars Greenhouse project was born, with the following primary objectives of: 1) Developing, integrating and simulating plant based life- support operations in a Mars-like setting 2) Developing and modelling telemetry operations of a ‘spacecraft’ (the greenhouse-ship) Figure 1: Devon Island in the Canadian Arctic o o (75 North 90 West) is home to the Haughton Mars Project. Greenhouse Development July 2002 (Field Season 1) ! Site selection and construction of the main structure ! Installation of weather station ! Initial temperature mapping Figure 4: Outfitting the Greenhouse, July 2003 Figure 3: Greenhouse Construction, July 2002 D: Structurally complete C: Installing the shell A: Foundation construction during a typical summer day B: Erecting the frame July 2003 (Field Season 2) & Installation of primary power systems (solar & wind) & Deployment of sensors and system control computers & Temperature control and heat recovery systems & Remote operations system development (satellite link) & Growth system I installation A: North East view of Greenhouse (Insert: Wind turbine and solar arrays) B: Satellite transmitter/receiver C: Environmental Control System July 2004 (Field Season 3) ! Double power capacity (Figure 5B,C,D) ! Installation of redundant systems (power) ! Revamp sensor, actuator and camera arrays (figure 6) ! Deployment of a new plant growth system (figure 5A) ! Address telemetry failure issues from 2003 Figure 5: A) Interior of greenhouse (growth trays, heaters, control computer, exhaust fans); B) Battery bank and heat recovery drum; C) Wind turbine ( 400W; 6.7m mast); D) Solar array (110W/panel; 6 panels) A B C D Support and Acknowledgements: This project would not be possible without the generous financial and in-kind support of CRESTech, the Canadian Space Agency, SpaceRef.com, the Haughton Mars Project, PolyLab (Simon Fraser University) and Controlled Environment Systems (University of Guelph). The authors would like to specifically thank Matt Bamsey, Keegan Boyd, Alexi Lussier- Desbiens, AC Hitch, Trish Garner, Jamie Lawson, Keith Cowing, Marc Boucher, Pascal Lee and Matt Silver for their tireless efforts on this project. Summary Over the past three summers, the team has: ! Built the structure and power systems ! Installed environmental monitoring and control hardware ! Installed growth systems ! Telemetrically controlled greenhouse operations This project represents a collaborative effort that has not only built a significant research tool for Mars analog studies, but also relationships between Canadian space interests and the international space community. Figure 6: A) The Greenhouse as it appeared July 24, 2004; B) The Greenhouse as it appeared September 24, 2004. Photo B was obtained via the greenhouse telemetry system. A B Figure 2: The Arthur C. Clarke Mars Greenhouse glows in the Devon Island midnight sun. The greenhouse is a key component of the life support research program at the Haughton Mars Project.

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Page 1: The Arthur C. Clarke Mars Greenhouse: An Analog Experience ... · The Arthur C. Clarke Mars Greenhouse: An Analog Experience on Devon Island Thomas Graham1, Alain Berinstain1,2, 1

The Arthur C. Clarke Mars Greenhouse: An Analog Experience on Devon Island

1 1,2 1 3Thomas Graham , Alain Berinstain ,Michael Dixon ,Stephen Braham1 2 3 University of Guelph, Environmental Biology, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. N1G 2W1; Canadian Space Agency, 6767 Route de l’Aeroport, Saint-Hubert, Quebec, J3Y 8Y9; Simon Fraser University, Harbour Centre Campus,

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. V6B 5K3

Overview & ObjectivesDespite its remoteness, Devon Island (figure 1) is host to an intense Mars analog research program. Two features of Devon Island make it an excellent Mars analog research site:

1) The Haughton Crater: A 23 million year old impact crater representative of impact structures throughout the solar system

2) Polar Desert: The desert climate has preserved the impact features of Haughton crater. This polar landscape shares many features with the Martian surface (dry, rocky, life is sparse?)

During the short Arctic summer, an international contingent of space scientists and engineers gather to conduct research at Haughton crater (figure 1 inset). In an effort to bolster Canada’s contribution to this research effort, and to build upon our expertise in biologically based life support, the Arthur C. Clarke Mars Greenhouse project was born, with the following primary objectives of:

1) Developing, integrating and simulating plant based life-support operations in a Mars-like setting

2) Developing and modelling telemetry operations of a ‘spacecraft’ (the greenhouse-ship)

Figure 1: Devon Island in the Canadian Arctic

o o(75 North 90 West) is home to the Haughton Mars Project.

Greenhouse Development

July 2002 (Field Season 1)! Site selection and construction of the main structure! Installation of weather station! Initial temperature mapping

Figure 4: Outfitting the Greenhouse, July 2003

Figure 3: Greenhouse Construction, July 2002

D: Structurally completeC: Installing the shell

A: Foundation construction during a typical summer day

B: Erecting the frame

July 2003 (Field Season 2)& Installation of primary power systems (solar & wind)& Deployment of sensors and system control computers& Temperature control and heat recovery systems& Remote operations system development (satellite link)& Growth system I installation

A: North East view of Greenhouse (Insert: Wind turbine and solar arrays)

B: Satellite transmitter/receiver

C: Environmental Control System

July 2004 (Field Season 3)! Double power capacity (Figure 5B,C,D)! Installation of redundant systems (power)! Revamp sensor, actuator and camera arrays (figure 6)! Deployment of a new plant growth system (figure 5A)! Address telemetry failure issues from 2003

Figure 5: A) Interior of greenhouse (growth trays, heaters, control computer, exhaust fans); B) Battery bank and heat recovery drum; C) Wind turbine ( 400W; 6.7m mast); D) Solar array (110W/panel; 6 panels)

A

B C D

Support and Acknowledgements: This project would not be possible without the generous financial and in-kind support of CRESTech, the Canadian Space Agency, SpaceRef.com, the Haughton Mars Project, PolyLab (Simon Fraser University) and Controlled Environment Systems (University of Guelph). The authors would like to specifically thank Matt Bamsey, Keegan Boyd, Alexi Lussier-Desbiens, AC Hitch, Trish Garner, Jamie Lawson, Keith Cowing, Marc Boucher, Pascal Lee and Matt Silver for their tireless efforts on this project.

SummaryOver the past three summers, the team has:!Built the structure and power systems! Installed environmental monitoring and control hardware! Installed growth systems!Telemetrically controlled greenhouse operations

This project represents a collaborative effort that has not only built a significant research tool for Mars analog studies, but also relationships between Canadian space interests and the international space community.

Figure 6: A) The Greenhouse as it appeared July 24, 2004; B) The Greenhouse as it appeared September 24, 2004. Photo B was obtained via the greenhouse telemetry system.

A B

Figure 2: The Arthur C. Clarke Mars Greenhouse glows in the Devon Island midnight sun. The greenhouse is a key component of the life support research program at the Haughton Mars Project.