"Making space more sustainable."

"Hexagarden": A magnetic hanging system designed to improve the mental health of astronauts in the International Space Station (ISS) with fresh herbs and various plants to add organic elements to the living spaces. Constructed half hexagon magnetic pots fit together in the shape of a hive. 

     Astronauts can suffer from severe homesickness. They also have a reduced sense of taste and smell due to sinus congestion resulting from a lack of gravity. A solution is adding an earthy element to the ISS, herbs that add fresh flavor to food and spicy peppers.

The Hive is made of completely collapsible wooden half hexagon containers with a waterproof bag that fits into a stationary beehive shaped structure. The hydroponic structure feeds the plant nutrients, water, and light. The pieces are deployable and can be stuck to almost any wall due to the ISS being metal, or it can simply float around, to create a more natural environment. 

Hexagarden: A wall-hanging deployable system that gives astronauts the ability to eat fresh food, create a more sustainable environment, and improve their mental health.

The Hexagarden planters are trapezoid-shaped planters designed to create a more natural and healthy environment for astronauts, especially those embarking on long-term missions. Many astronauts suffer from mental illness because of the separation between them, loved ones, and the comforts of home. In addition, the lack of gravity on the ISS leaves astronauts consuming liquids and hydrated solids that come is disposable bags, which has negative impacts on the environment. The Hexagarden helps to reduce the waste being produced, provides the astronauts with more nutritious meals, and combats mental illness.

The planters use hydroponics to grow edible plants over a twelve-week period. The product includes a hexagonal frame that the planter attaches to via magnets.

Evan: 

Gravatone:A percussive musical instrument that capitalizes on the effects  of micro-gravity, allowing astronauts to make music in a new way.

Currently, music in space  is played on instruments that were constructed for earth, an environment with gravity. The gravatone creates a musical experience which requires a micro-gravity environment to function. the gravatone is a spherical object with keys located around the inside surface. A magnet is used to pull ball bearings towards the keys. The balls hit the key, producing a note in F# scale. This instrument only works in micro gravity as gravity will not allow the ball bearings to free float inside. This instrument will provide astronauts a unique opportunity for new ways of experiencing music.

Ella:

Gravatone: A zero gravity instrument designed to develop music culture in outer space. 

Throughout all content, countries, and regions there is a universal language of music. Although each part of the world has a distinct musical sound and traditions, music is a form of expression that connects humanity and spreads joy. One place where music hasn’t fully developed is in outer space. The Gravatone is an instrument designed specifically for the environment of outer space and zero gravity. The Gravatone is a polyhedron shaped instrument, that has a set number of tuned metal pieces. The instrument is struck with rubber covered magnetic marbles which creates its unique sound. Similar to instruments from all around the world the Gravatone includes characteristics unique to outer space. The instrument works by placing it somewhere in the air and then by using the handheld magnet to guide the magnetic marbles to each metal bar which plays a note. 

The inspiration for this instrument was glockenspiel, more specifically a metallophone. Unlike most glockenspiels, this instrumental only contains the notes of an F# Lydian scale. In music, there are different scales played in order to achieve different sounds. The Lydian scale is a musical mode that has a distinctive sci-fi ambiance making it perfect for space culture. This instrument can also be played simultaneously with other musicians using another handheld magnet. The Gravatone is made for all musicians who want to experience extraterrestrial music culture. The hope is that this instrument will inspire and further develop the future society in outer space. 

Chris' Brief:

A swimming pool that astronauts can enjoy on the ISS by creating artificial gravity. The pool is shaped like a donut and is endlessly spinning on the side of the ISS, creating centrifugal force.

When swimming in the pool, an astronaut would experience gravity similar to Earth's. That is because the module rotates around one of the arms on the space station, creating centrifugal force. If the pool water ever gets too hot or too cold, an astronaut can adjust the temperature using multiple thermostats located around the pool. An astronaut can also adjust current, creating a lazy river or a jacuzzi. The swimming pool allows for physical and mental exercise as well as relaxation for those living in space.

Andrew's Brief:

A rotating swimming pool designed for the International Space Station that creates artificial gravity. The space pool, shaped like a doughnut, rotates around the side of the ISS and creates a centrifugal force that allows the astronauts to swim in space just like they would back on Earth. 

The Centrifupool pool serves the astronauts on the ISS and provides them the experience of swimming in space. The pool also provides astronauts with a fun way to exercise while on a mission. This would benefit both social dynamics on the ISS as well as the mental health of the astronauts, who often experience anxiety while working on the space station. The swimming pool works by rotating around one of the sides of the ISS and creates a centrifugal force that creates artificial gravity, simulating swimming on Earth. The pool has windows, which give astronauts unparalleled views that overlook the blue and green outline of the Earth. Astronauts can also adjust the current which creates a lazy river if an astronaut wants to relax and de-stress. The Centrifupool is the perfect way for an astronaut to stay mentally and physically healthy while living in space.

Siena:

An interactive water box that simulates tides, allowing astronauts living in sterile environments to feel relaxed and be reminded of their home.

Astronauts living on the ISS live in a sterile environment for 6 months, which can have a significant impact on their mental health. Tidal Vibes seeks to decrease their anxiety and stress by reminding them of earth, specifically the ocean. The project is intended to be an interactive relaxation device The Tidal Vibes is a water-sealed box and a piston made of aluminum that pushes the water creating a tide. This stimulates both the natural rhythm of the ocean as well as the peaceful reverberation of waves. The user interacts with Tidal Vibes by grabbing the aluminum rod and pushing and pulling it.

Max:

A zero gravity water box that creates ocean tides to remind astronauts of earth. The goal of the Water box is to provide soothing and meditative sounds to support the mental health of astronauts during their time in space. 

Astronauts on the ISS are working far from home, which takes a toll on them mentally leading to anxiety and stress. Astronauts interact with the piece by pulling and pushing the piston that creates an inflow and outflow of water, stimulating a tide. This is accompanied by LED mood lights on the back of the box.  This box is designed to help stressed astronauts on the ISS. The box should be placed in a relaxing environment like a "living room" or sleeping quarters for maximum impact.

Upside down farming: A structure that can assists plants to grow in high gravity situations. The structure includes buckets that hold a plant upside down, and a watering system that waters each plant at a controlled rate.

The Upside Down Farm is an alternative system, which cultivates a sustainable source of natural food. Without this, people on living on other planets, like Gilese 667cc, would have to consume pre-packaged food from small plastic pouches. This farming system allows people to grow crops found on earth and have access to fresh and healthy food. There is a tube that supports main tube. This holds the plants and has a irrigation system to help them thrive. the  It can  hold a variety of plants and help them grow well in the given environment. Once the plants grow larger, the bucket flips down and allows the plant to continue growing. The Upside Down Farm can be built within one's home or be expanded for commercial use.

Amiyr brief:

The pocket shower is a small, 3 in 1 tool for astronauts to easily take a shower in space. It includes a showerhead, blowdryer and soap bar.

Currently, showering in space requires multiple steps and the infrastructure consumes a significant amount of space. The pocket shower addresses these limitations. It easily hooks up to the original water source via a wall-mounted box and blows air after washing to dry off the skin. once your skin is dry the water will get sucked up by a system on the ship that collects floating water bubbles. As more people venture into space, the pocket shower is a crucial tool for maintaining cleanliness.

Max Brief: 

A pocket shower: A tool used to shower space that consits of two parts: Soap dispenser which inserts soap into the water to make it soapy, and a showerhead used for washing and drying.

While in space, astronauts are living and working in limited close quarters. The pocket shower is a small and portable device, which is easily accessible to astronauts. It includes a showerhead with two plugs, one that is plugged into the ships water source and another that is plugged into an air pressurizer. To use the soap, a user presses a button on the showerhead, and it will dispense soap into the water. The pocket shower is a far more efficient way to shower in space.