EDEN LUNA – keeping it cool with its new Thermal Control System

The EDEN LUNA plant growth facility has reached its first Assembly Integration and Verification (AIV) Milestone – the Thermal Control System (TCS) is installed and tested.

EDEN LUNA is going to be a new addition to the DLR-ESA LUNA analog environment in Cologne. DLR is testing critical systems for nearly closed loop bio-regenerative life support systems for higher plants in confined and extreme environments. Its precursor EDEN ISS has been operated for approximately four years in Antarctica at the German Neumayer III Station.

Operating high power LEDs and keeping the atmosphere just right for the plants and astronauts in EDEN LUNA requires a custom-made Thermal Control System. Thus, the thermal concept from EDEN ISS has been re-designed by the team at the Concurrent Engineering Facility (CEF) at the DLR Institute of Space Systems taking into account the (new) LUNA requirements and project objectives. It consists of a closed and interactive loop system controlled by the on-board Computer of EDEN LUNA. After careful reviews and tests it was time to assemble and integrate the system into the EDEN LUNA Container at the DLR Institute of Space Systems with the manufacturer Cerasus Company in Switzerland. The system now interfaces with the Lighting Control System, as well as with the Atmosphere Management System for the Greenhouse section, via its thermal lines. The successful leakage tests and activation of the actuators presented a highlight of the ongoing efforts of the integration team in Bremen and provides the baseline for the future end-to-end Controlled Environmental Agriculture (CEA) system test.