SPADE

Solar Powered Aquaponics Design Exploration (SPADE) is addressing sustainable human nutrition for long distance space travel by incorporating aquaculture and traditional farming as a replenishable food source. The system will include automated fish feeding and water recycle system for low labor and solar panels as a renewable energy source to power the entire system. The goal of SPADE is to optimize aquaponics as a potential food source for a permanent or temporary base on Mars by testing how fish food and nutrient delivery affect the quality of the system. SPADE is aiming to provide 35% nutrition for 4 astronauts through vertical aquaponics where flow, nutrient levels, and water quality are monitored via Raspberry Pi.