Microgravity Simulator: Growth of Plant-Based Food in Space

Microgravity simulation is a vital concept for improving space mission safety and discovering new technologies. Understanding this topic could lower health risks for astronauts during long-duration space missions and reduce space exploration expenses. The first objective of this research is to construct a low-budget clinostat, a type of microgravity simulator. The second objective is to evaluate the effects of microgravity on the growth of plants and food using this clinostat. Space research can be expensive and often out of reach for students at small colleges, which is why we aim to demonstrate that it is possible to undertake space research related projects with limited resources. The experimental method includes four different conditions: Normal Gravity - no fertilizer, Normal Gravity - with fertilizer, Microgravity - no fertilizer, and Microgravity - with fertilizer. We predict that the clinostat will help the seeds grow at a faster rate regardless of whether fertilizer is being used. The design of the clinostat and the results of the experiment will be described.