Outer Space Planter

thingiverse

The object I've designed for NASA's competition is a space planter meant to thrive in environments with limited or no gravity. This compact design would likely be used for testing and research on individual, smaller plants, or as a nursery for larger plants during their early development stages. It would be particularly useful on the space station, enabling easy research on how different plants adapt to zero-gravity conditions. My design is straightforward. It consists of a small parabolic shape serving as a cup, a cap, and a holding box. The cup holds the soil required for plant growth, featuring several holes at its base that allow roots to grow freely. A cap with both a "growth hole" and a "water hole" allows water to enter while keeping loose soil contained within the module. The cap's design makes it easy to assemble by matching the holes on the cup's rim with protrusions on the cap, then turning 90 degrees left or right. This space planter is incredibly user-friendly. To use it, simply add soil and a seedling to the cup, followed by placing the cap on top by aligning the holes and turning it clockwise or counterclockwise 90 degrees. Next, place the module into the holding box, completing the assembly process. Whenever watering is necessary, insert the water tube from the station's kitchen through the "water hole" into the soil to deliver a precise amount of moisture directly to the plant.