STUDY OF MASS-EXCHANGE PROPERTIES OF CAPILLARY-POROUS BODIES, ROOT HABITABLE
MEDIA, IN SPACEFLIGHT CONDITIONS (MASSOPERENOS)
Research Area: Plant Biology
Expedition(s): 2
Principal Investigator(s): ● Vladimir N. Sychev, PhD, Institute of Medical and Biological
Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The Study of Mass-Exchange Properties of
Capillary-Porous Bodies, Root Habitable
Media, in Spaceflight Conditions
(Massoperenos) investigation studies the
particulars of moisture transfer in capillary-
porous bodies—soil substitutes—in
microgravity. Massoperenos examines the
movement of liquid when pores are partially
filled and, subsequently, with the active
participation of capillary forces, since
microgravity conditions are primarily evident
where capillary forces start prevailing.
SPACE BENEFITS
Results of this study are used to design space greenhouses (such as the Lada greenhouse) that
are proposed for use on near-Earth orbital stations. In addition, all the particulars discovered
are important for designing modules for researching substrates and for various space
technologies using porous bodies.
RESULTS
The results showed that the gravitation factor played an important role in the formation of a
different level of moisture content in root habitable media when cultivating plants. For the first
time, the dynamics of capillary sorption by root habitable medium in microgravity were
determined, and the coefficient of capillary diffusion of moisture was determined
experimentally in microgravity for root habitable medium with limited capillary saturation. In
order to study the particulars of moisture migration in the root module (RM) for spaceflight
conditions, a comparison of the hydrophysical characteristic was made during the root
habitable medium drying phase.
In order for liquid to move via capillary forces in capillary RM (drying process) in spaceflight
conditions, greater potential is required than for gravitational conditions (roughly up to 10
times greater for humidity of 70-60%); thus, the value of rheon is significantly higher in
spaceflight conditions than in gravitational conditions. These data coincide with previous data
on the possibility of creating localized weakly diffusing zones of moisture in RM for spaceflight
conditions.
Massoperenos experimental cuvette following
completion of the investigation and return to Earth.