The Judges Committee has awarded this submission EXCELLENCE IN INTERSTELLAR AGRICULTURE EXPLORATION
PROJECT SUMMARY
Question or Problem: How does the stratospheric environment affect soybean seeds at different stages of germination?
Methodology:
A stratospheric balloon payload was developed which included soybean seeds along with sensors for temperature, humidity, UV rays, altitude, pressure, and a camera to capture images. It also had an Arduino microcontroller to collect sensor readings and store them on an SD card.
Results:
The team conducted several tests on Earth and the results showed that the microcontroller stops working at temperatures below -15°C due to its low thermal resistance. The final stage of the project, which involved observing what happened to the soybean seeds sent into the stratosphere, was not carried out.
WHY?
The purpose of this project was to observe how soybean seeds germinated at different stages would react to extreme conditions in the stratospheric environment. The main objective of the project was to observe the reaction of germinated soybean seeds in the stratospheric environment after being sent in a balloon probe.
HOW?
We designed a payload prototype using an Arduino microcontroller, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, UV sensors, and others to collect data during a stratospheric balloon flight. We built a circuit board to mount the sensors along with an SD memory card to store the data we collected. Then, we planned to analyze the data using algorithms written in Python.
WHAT?
We discovered that the payload was unable to withstand the extreme conditions we subjected them to. From -15°C and without having good thermal protection, the prototype was frozen.
The prototype worked by collecting sensor data and capturing images every 5 seconds during testing, until before freezing, allowing an analysis of seed behavior in a space-like environment.
SO WHAT?
Our results are significant because they suggest that cultivating soybeans in space might be feasible for future space missions. However, this would only be possible if the environment where the plants grow is carefully controlled. In conclusion, our findings open the door to the possibility of having self-sustaining crops in space to supply astronauts in space stations, thereby reducing reliance on supplies delivered from Earth.
WHAT'S NEXT?
An enhanced heat protection system that can resist the space environment and its effects on the seeds might be considered as an extension of the project. Additionally, it might be enhanced by using a more potent microcontroller to enable the use of cameras that can capture a higher-quality image of the seeds and even outer space, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the seeds’ behavior.
REFERENCES & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The inspiration arose from an invitation from the AEP (Agencia Espacial del Paraguay) who for the first time organized a Stratospheric Launch Competition “Globo sonda” aimed at high school students in Paraguay. Our school participated in this event, achieving fourth place in the competition.
JUDGES FEEDBACK
Impressive project! Your approach to studying soybean germination in the stratosphere is both innovative and thorough. Your dedication to detail and analytical approach will undoubtedly yield valuable insights. However consider expanding your analysis by integrating additional sensors to measure factors such as air pressure, radiation levels, or atmospheric composition It could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the environment's impact on seed germination. Keep up the remarkable work, and I look forward to seeing how you continue to refine and advance your project!