Pods in Space is part of the NASA Nebraska Student Grant Fellowship with Western Nebraska Community College.
The project uses Terrarium Science to create a miniature bioactive enclosure to test Martian Gardens Regolith. This Regolith (substrate not necessarily from earth) was created by NASA based off of the mars rover readings for use in experimentation. I am using the MMS - 1 version and the Composition is as follows:
- Silica - 49%
- Iron Oxide - 11%
- Aluminum Oxide - 17%
- Calcium Oxide - 10%
- Magnesium Oxide - 6%
- Sulfate - <1%
- Trace - 6%
This synthetic substrate is very close to matching the readings from the rovers. We started with 4 Kilograms of dry course substrate and 8 Kilograms of the fine substrate. This is obviously a mineral substrate and does not contain any organic material. This means it is not ready to grow anything that cannot function on its own in silica based soils.
NASA is working on plans for colonizing mars. When I submitted my grant for this fellowship my proposal was to see if I can use dried detritus, water and 3 different saprophytes to nourish the substrate and allow growth. Saprophytes are organisms that eat decaying matter and break it down to its base nutrients. The most famous example would be earth worms. Whos waste becomes the living soil we enjoy in gardening. My 3 choices are Isopods, springtails and Mycorrhizal fungi. The Giant Canyon isopods (Porcellio dilatatus), Arid Springtails (Folsomia candida), and Mycorrhizal fungi (Rhizophagus intraradices) are the species I chose.
I am still learning, but the idea I have is the giant canyons will break down larger detritus (leaves, and other decaying matter from plants) and produce frass (waste) in the top soils. They will also burrow and move the soil around. The Springtails will consume mold, control fungi, and help break down detritus. Springtails are great at keeping the system functional. Finally the fungi will pull nutrients deeper down. This should change the nutrients and moisture in the soil allowing it to support a wider range of organisms. From plants to bacteria cultures, to fungus the mars colony can use for a range of resources.
The purpose behind the project primarily to learn as a student. I chose this project because I am an ecology major and want to understand the ecosystems better. I have worked with water, nitrogen cycles, and animals. But my knowledge of soil was lacking. So I started this project knowing very little about soil science with the hopes of fast tracking some hands on learning. So far, It has been amazing. The project is currently ongoing.
-Sarah