US 12,446,501 B2
Plant growth system for microgravity environments
Dan Wyman, Madison, WI (US); Samuel A. Moffatt, Madison, WI (US); Michael Peterson, Bondurant, IA (US); and John P. Wetzel, Verona, WI (US)
Assigned to Sierra Space Corporation, Louisville, CO (US)
Filed by Sierra Space Corporation, Broomfield, CO (US)
Filed on May 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/303,094.
Prior Publication US 2022/0369580 A1, Nov. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. A01G 31/02 (2006.01)
CPC A01G 31/02 (2013.01) [A01G 31/065 (2025.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A plant growth system comprising:
a main body; and
a root/shoot interface coupled to the main body, the root/shoot interface and the main body forming at least part of a root chamber, the root/shoot interface being configured to hold a plant having a root system extending outward from one side of the root/shoot interface into the root chamber and a shoot system extending outward from another side of the root/shoot interface outside of the root chamber;
a hydroponic system configured to fill and drain the root chamber with a nutrient solution; and
an aeroponic system configured to spray the nutrient solution into the root chamber;
wherein the root chamber is entirely enclosed and configured to prevent liquid from escaping from the root chamber in a microgravity environment and wherein a gasket is coupled to the root chamber to form a fluid tight environment of the root chamber that keeps liquid contained within the root chamber in a microgravity environment;
capillary channels formed entirely of capillary tubes positioned horizontally at an interface between the main body and the root/shoot interface, positioned vertically along interior corners of the main body, and positioned horizontally along a bottom of the main body, wherein the capillary channels converge to a capillary collection area positioned in a center of the main body;
a drain in fluid communication with the capillary collection area; and
wherein the capillary channels are grooves positioned in the interior corners and along the bottom of the main body and formed when the root/shoot interface and the main body are coupled together.