Baseline Data Collection on Dry Bean Growth for NASA Mission to Mars
David deVilliers

For the past four years the CEA program has promoted research to develop the staple crop dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) for use in extraterrestrial Life Support Systems. The research has been conducted by the graduate student David de Villiers, a recipient of NASA's GSRP fellowship. All aspects of hydroponic production were addressed to some degree, and a number of different cultivars were evaluated. Yield potential and efficiency of light use were examined. The main effort went into determining the optimal photosynthetic period for bean production, including exploring the possibility of growing the crop under continuous light. Use of a 24-hour photoperiod is definitely a possibility for this crop, and may be the preferred option. David de Villiers also is a collaborator with researchers at the Kennedy Space Center in exploring the use of CO2 enrichment with the bean crop.