Foldable Martian Farm—Designer Statement

Nowadays launching rockets to Mars is still costly, so it’s unlikely to deliver food many times. Hence, growing crops on Mars is necessary. However, Martian soil is rich in heavy metallic elements which can be accumulated in vegetables. Hence, aeroponics is one remaining potential approach.

Sketch of Foldable Martian Farm

It is growing plants while exposing their roots in the air full of nutritious fog. I came up with the idea that growing crops directly on the grid wall, which consists of mycelia structure. Because NASA finds that mycelia can block spatial radiation, growing fast, easily, strong and flexible and offering mushroom as food. Then I started with ordering a solid mushroom bag online, composing cottonseed hulls, corn cob, jigsaw, soya flour and water. When it delivered to my home I identified the problem with this first prototype—six days growth already produced a super strong integration that I couldn’t break with a sharp knife. Meanwhile, the solid medium is still too heavy and huge to deliver.

First Prototype

Therefore, I improved my second prototype. I intended to grow crops on a composite fabric which has two mycelia surfaces with a middle layer of biodegradable fabric. I tried to make a fluid medium of cornmeal, bran, magnesium sulfate, monopotassium phosphate and water. And then dip the fabric into it and see if mycelia and grow interweaving it. Via unfolding a piece of this kind of fabric, we can build a Martian mycelia farming wall. The volume and weight should be so small and light that you can put it in your palm. However, mycelia’s growth demands a sterile environment like a medium plate. Some mold contaminated my fluid medium while no spore budded.

Furthermore, I changed to grow crops on biodegradable textiles straightforward. I tested soybean, Chinese fast-ripen cabbage, white radish, white corn, romaine lettuce and Chinese lettuce seeds on cotton, linen and wood fiber. I immersed the seeds in water at around 25°C for 12 hours and place them on the textiles. However, cotton and linen are knitted so densely that they are not absorbent enough while evaporating fast, so seeds died. Though they can grow on wooden fiber, mould invaded their roots as well.

Third Prototype

I am still exploring proper fabrics. If you are interested in biology, material science, farming and Mars, feel free to reach out to me!