EuCROPIS
| Eu: CROPIS | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Type: | Research satellite (greenhouse) |
| Country: |
 Germany
|
| Operator: |
 DLR
|
| COSPAR-ID : | 2018-099BB |
| Mission dates | |
| Dimensions: | 230 kg |
| Begin: | December 3, 2018, 19:34 UTC |
| Starting place: | Vandenberg AFB , SLC-4E |
| Launcher: | Falcon 9 v1.2 (Block 5) |
| Flight duration: | 16 months |
| Status: | in orbit; mission completed |
| Orbit data | |
| Track height: | 600 km |
Eu: CROPIS ( Eu glena and C ombined R egenerative O rganic food P roduction i n S pace) is a small satellite of the German Center for Aerospace , of the Institute of Space Systems in Bremen developed other, composed DLR facilities and built has been. It is the first of the compact satellite series, or CompSat for short.
The aim of the mission is to prove that a bioregenerative life support system based on bacteria and algae-like protists can also function under gravity conditions such as on the moon and Mars and can convert (artificial) urine into nutrients for plants.
construction
The satellite is 1.1 m high and one meter in diameter. It is supplied with electrical energy via four fold-out solar panels. The position control is done purely electrically via magnetic torquers . Eu: CROPIS is likely to be the first satellite that rotates in order to generate artificial gravity (NB: some satellites rotate for stabilization, not to generate acceleration similar to gravity); although this principle was first described in 1929 and repeatedly taken up in theory , it has probably never been implemented.
payload
The payload was developed at the FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg and at the DLR site in Cologne by the Institute for Aerospace Medicine.
The satellite's payload consists of two identical halves, each containing a water tank, a greenhouse and a biofilter. The filter substrate consists of pre-treated lava stones that house a bacterial community that specializes in breaking down urine. If the (artificial) urine that is carried along trickles over the filter, the bacteria convert the urea into nitrate via ammonia . The ammonia that is temporarily produced and harmful to plants is absorbed by the protists. With the help of the resulting fertilizer solution, six tomato plants will grow, bloom and produce fruit in the greenhouse. 16 cameras observe the plant growth and the efficiency of photosynthesis is determined using fluorescence measurements. This serves as a control for the successful conversion of the artificial urine into nitrate solution. A day-night rhythm is simulated using LEDs . As secondary payloads, there are two radiation measuring devices on board, which measure the radiation exposure inside and outside. An on-board computer is installed as the technical payload to test the principle of the scalable on-board computer in space. The NASA also has an additional payload on board: Power Cell is to first test a transformation of bacteria under reduced gravity.
Mission history
The satellite started on December 3, 2018 with the Rideshare flight SSO-A . Since then it has been in a slightly elliptical low earth orbit (LEO) of 570 × 590 km altitude. It moves in a sun-synchronous orbit , so that its solar panels are almost always aligned at right angles to the sun and thus provide almost permanent electrical energy. The satellite is operated by the GSOC u. a. using the ground station in Weilheim .
To simulate artificial gravity, the satellite rotates around its vertical axis. In a first mission phase of 6 months, a gravity like on the moon (0.16 g) is generated, for which the satellite rotates at approx. 20 revolutions per minute. This is followed by a faster rotation (approx. 30 / min) in order to achieve a force of gravity like on Mars (0.38 g). After the end of the mission, the satellite will remain in orbit for about 18 years until it burns up in the earth's atmosphere.
At the beginning of 2020, DLR announced the end of the experimental phase. The eponymous experiment could not be carried out because it was not possible to start the experiment. The cause were software problems.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d The Eu Mission: CROPIS: Greenhouses in Space - Food Technology for the Future. German Aerospace Center, accessed on December 3, 2018 (German).
- ↑ a b c d e f g Greenhouses in Space - Successful start of the Eu: CROPIS mission. German Aerospace Center, accessed on December 3, 2018 (German).
- ↑ Eu: CROPIS. skyrocket.de, accessed on December 3, 2018 (English).
- ↑ a b Compact satellite in polar orbit - Farewell to Mission Eu: CROPIS. DLR, January 13, 2020, accessed on January 19, 2020 .
- ↑ a b Eu: CROPIS - "Euglena gracilis: Combined Regenerative Organic Food Production in Space" - A Space Experiment Testing Biological Life Support Systems Under Lunar And Martian gravity. Microgravity Science and Technology, accessed December 19, 2018 .
- ↑ A greenhouse in space, an airplane that becomes quieter and cargo that flies independently to its destination. German Aerospace Center, accessed on December 3, 2018 (German).