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#26 2025-12-28 09:16:21
- SpaceNut
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- From: New Hampshire
- Registered: 2004-07-22
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Re: WIKI Lighting use How and why things are not simple
If this is done on first mission then we can stay but here is part of what must be done.
Mars has an atmosphere. Greenhouses can be built with Mars soil for plants, and Mars atmosphere. It has to be processed. Carbon monoxide must be removed, or reacted with oxygen to produce CO2. CO2 itself must be reduced, but not eliminated. Greenhouses must have oxygen similar to Earth.
Mars soil must be treated. Perchlorates must be broken down. But scientists have already developed an enzyme to break down perchlorate. If there is perchlorate in soil, it will be take up by plants and be present in food. Perchlorate is toxic. But it breaks down into salt and oxygen. So breaking down takes effort and time, but can be done.
Mars soil has practically no nitrogen. Instruments on Spirit and Opportunity rovers found none. Instruments on Curiosity and Perseverance were more sensitive; they found some, but very little and only in certain locations. Nitrogen will have to be added to soil in greenhouses. That's Ok; there's nitrogen in Mars atmosphere. We know how to process Mars atmosphere to concentrate nitrogen. And we know how to react atmospheric nitrogen with hydrogen to make ammonia. We can react ammonia with more nitrogen to make ammonium-nitrate fertilizer. That's white granules, used as fertilizer for many decades.
Water: at mid-latitudes there are glaciers in the sides of canyons. These have been mapped by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. There's also a large frozen lake at low altitude just 4° north of the equator. It's the "frozen pack-ice" of v, a formation in a large area known as Elysium Planitia. The European Space Agency has studied it: surface area larger than the Great Lakes, or roughly equal to the North Sea. Volume greater than all the Great Lakes combined, or roughly equal to the North Sea. Not as deep as Lake Superior, but same depth as Lake Erie. Some people at NASA claimed it's lava, not ice. Professional geologists with PhD's at the European Space Agency said this is absolutely NOT lava; it is ice.
Here's an image showing a couple "sploosh" craters.
Robert is also talking about the right size for those that stay as caretakers which is not what others say we can do with out studies of mars gravity effects.
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#27 2026-01-10 09:55:34
- tahanson43206
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Re: WIKI Lighting use How and why things are not simple
This topic has a title that could be changed so it reflects the content of the topic.
The topic showed up in a search of the posts looking for Calliban's dome.
Presumably there is something in the topic about Calliban's dome, but there may be other interesting content.
(th)
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#28 2026-01-10 15:16:18
- SpaceNut
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Re: WIKI Lighting use How and why things are not simple
The average height for common food crops grown above the soil ranges significantly based on the plant type, with most annual vegetables maturing between 1 and 4 feet (12 to 48 inches) above the ground. For optimal growth, raised bed heights usually need to be 6 to 12 inches for leafy greens and herbs, and 12 to 18 inches for fruiting plants, accommodating both above-ground growth and root development.
Average Mature Heights of Common Crops
Leafy Greens & Herbs (6–15 inches): Lettuce, spinach, kale, parsley, chives.Root Crops & Low Growers (6–18 inches): Radishes, carrots, beets, turnips, strawberries.
Fruiting/Bush Plants (18–36 inches): Peppers, eggplants, broccoli, summer squash, zucchini, bush beans.
Tall/Vining Plants (4–10+ feet): Pole beans, tomatoes, corn, cucumbers (trellised), pole beans.
Above-Soil Growth Characteristics
Annual Vegetables: Most common garden vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, kale) have their edible portion 1–3 feet above the soil.Vining Crops: Crops like cucumbers, melons, and vining squash can be trained to grow vertically, with some vining plants reaching heights of 6–10 feet or more when trellised.
Small Fruits: Strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries grow relatively low, typically staying under 2–3 feet.
Optimal Raised Bed Height (Soil Surface Height)
Minimum Depth: 8–10 inches of soil is generally sufficient for most vegetables, especially if they can access ground soil below.
Ideal Depth: 16–18 inches allows for the best productivity for a wide variety of vegetables, from lettuce to large squash.
Deep-Rooted Perennials: Asparagus or berries may require 20–24 inches of soil for maximum productivity
KBD512 was estimating an acre for food but that makes no use of vertical for hydroponic or multiple soil height draws for crops that are shorter
The average height of food grown in hydroponic systems varies significantly based on the crop type, but for common, leafy, and herb-based vertical systems, plants generally mature at a height of 40–45 cm (approx. 16–18 inches).
Average Heights by Crop Type
Basil: Typically measures 30–44 cm at the end of the growth cycle.Bok Choy: Reaches an average height of around 12 cm by the end of its cycle.
Lettuce & Leafy Greens: Generally have compact canopy growth, often in the 10–20 cm range.
Vining/Large Crops (Tomatoes, Cucumbers): These require vertical support and are far taller, often reaching several feet/meters, but are kept compact through training and pruning.
Vertical System Heights
Tower Systems: Individual towers (like those from Tower Farms) can reach over 9 feet high, though they contain multiple, shorter-height plants.Small-Scale/Home Units: Often designed to fit on counters or shelves, with vertical clearance requirements ranging from 28 cm to several feet.
Key Factors Influencing Height
Nutrient Solutions: Lower nutrient levels (within reasonable limits) sometimes result in larger plant heights.Flow Rates: Studies show higher plant heights often occur at specific water flow rates, such as 20 L/h.
System Type: Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) often produces higher plant growth compared to Ebb & Flow or soil, with one study showing 40 cm for NFT vs. 30 cm for Ebb & Flow
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