Sending the Garden of ETON to Space

Backed by Shaun Whitehead, Micro Aerospace Solutions, NDBulawa, Steven Sleasman, Nick Tommarello, Chelsea Otakan, Diana Bokaie, Paul D Disney, Robert Anstett, Ron Goedendorp, and 118 other backers
Chicks in Space
Greeneville, Tennessee
BiologyEngineering
Open Access
DOI: 10.18258/4217
$15,315
Raised of $15,000 Goal
102%
Funded on 3/29/15
Successfully Funded
  • $15,315
    pledged
  • 102%
    funded
  • Funded
    on 3/29/15

About This Project

In order for longterm space missions to be successful, a renewable food source is needed. We've developed a hydroponic garden specifically designed to function under conditions of microgravity - ETON. We've been offered the opportunity to launch NanoETON on NASA's ISS to test our hypothesis that water can be circulated in microgravity using centripetal force. This research may help the development of hydroponic gardens for future space missions.

Ask the Scientists

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What is the context of this research?

The Garden of ETON is a hydroponic garden developed for use in conditions of microgravity. Most hydroponic gardens are gravity driven and would not function on NASA's International Space Station. The Garden of ETON uses centripetal force for water circulation.We hope to have the opportunity to test a prototype of the Garden of ETON under actual conditions of microgravity, we just need funding to make this possible. We have the opportunity to send a prototype of our project to the ISS via the company NanoRacks LLC. The company, NanoRacks LLC works to get experiments like ours through the NASA safety process so they can be launched to the ISS to experience actual conditions of microgravity. Astronauts will perform and record the results of our experiment.

What is the significance of this project?

For any future long term space mission to be successful a renewable food source is required. Hydroponic gardens seem well suited for future space missions but they will have to be modified to function in conditions of microgravity. The Garden of ETON is designed to function using centripetal force to circulate water. The prototype we wish to send to NASA's International Space Station will test our design in actual conditions of microgravity and could be critical to the development of a renewable food source for use in future space outposts and on long term space missions.

What are the goals of the project?

We hope to see if the mechanics of the Garden of ETON function as we expect under actual conditions of microgravity. We wish to see if water can be circulated using centripetal force in conditions of microgravity. We also wish to see if plants on a small centrifuge in conditions of microgravity will respond to the centripetal force as we predict. The Garden of ETON is designed with the hypothesis that plant's statoliths will respond to the centripetal force they are exposed to and respond by bending towards the center of the centrifuge. We will analyze the growth of small plants growing on plant growth media on the centrifuge on NanoETON.

Budget

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We have developed a hydroponic garden to be used under conditions of microgravity. Our research is at a standstill until we are able to continue our experiments under actual conditions of microgravity. We have the opportunity to send a payload to the ISS on NanoRacks LLC. We have reconfigured our experiment to a 4x4 inch box but need funding to transport the project to NASA's International Space Station.



We're also offering backers rewards for joining the community!
$50: Certificate of Participation from NanoRacks, LLC
$100: Have your name written inside the hardware that carries E.T.O.N. to the International Space Station.
$250: Receive an item such as a Space Patch that has flown to the ISS and back
$1,000+: Decal with your Name or Company Logo placed on the outside of the payload with an accompanying photograph. *Donor must supply a decal of 1 inch by 3 inches or less. (Limited supply, 0 out of 6 left)



*These rewards are generously donated by Nanoracks!

Meet the Team

MaryAnn Bulawa
MaryAnn Bulawa
Adia Bulawa
Adia Bulawa
Lillith Bulawa
Lillith Bulawa

Team Bio

Chicks in Space is a group of high school girls who hope to advance space science. We have grown up working on NASA challenges and have had the opportunity to participate in the Conrad Spirit of Innovation - a program aimed at development of innovative ideas. We have created the Garden of ETON - or Extra Terrestrial Organic Nutrition . This is a hydroponic garden developed to function under conditions of microgravity. It has always been our dream to have an experiment on NASA's International Space Station. We hope to be able to have the opportunity to launch a reconfigured Garden of ETON - NanoETON - on NanoRacks LLC on NASA's International Space Station. NanRacks LLC is a company that helps projects like ours get through NASA's safety and review processes.
When we are not working on space related projects we enjoy golfing and hanging out with our family.

Project Backers

  • 128Backers
  • 102%Funded
  • $15,315Total Donations
  • $92.67Average Donation
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