Hydroponic Rego-rock Produced In-Space for Efficient and Healthy Crop Growth

In support of NASA's goals for efficient plant growth in Space, NanoSonic offers an inert polymeric binding system to make use of Mars surface regolith as a safe, structural, growth media for passive hydroponically grown plants. Importantly, the proposed multi-functional binding agent will be combined with regolith to: 1) form a porous support structure with an optimal air-to-water ratio for enhanced water/nutrient retention, 2) result in a high cation exchange media for long-term availability and uptake of mineral nutrients to the plants, while precluding anionic perchlorate sorption, and 3) chemically reduce regolith-containing perchlorate compounds to non-toxic TiO2 crystallites. This low weight, low volume pelletized binding system will take advantage of surface structure available on Mars that cannot be used alone in its current perchlorate laden form, and thereby reduce the amount of growth media and fertilizer required in transit to Space. During this program, NanoSonic shall produce prototype "Rego-rock", based on our innovative polymer structural reinforcement system for Mars-like regolith. We have teamed with water purification and hydroponic plant experts at Virginia Tech (VT) and Groundworks to demonstrate soil-less growth of non-toxic nutrient rich plants with our innovative Rego-rock. Specifically, Dr. Jason He, VT's Director of Center for Applied Water Research and Innovation (CAWRI), shall characterize water flux, uptake, and purity of Rego-Rock tested in forward osmosis units to assess lifetime and potential for re-usability after cleaning. Groundworks will grow plants hydroponically within Rego-rock alongside unmodified Mars-like regolith and a commercial growth media to yield produce for toxicology and quantify anticipated enhanced growth rate and yield.