Recognized as NASA Space Apps Peru 2021 Winners
This project was one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of my career. It involved significant effort to work with new people, take on a leadership role, and participate in my first contest of this scale. Our team was selected among 1600 participants, winning the competition and receiving a nomination to compete globally.
The NASA Space Apps Challenge is an annual global hackathon where participants collaborate to solve challenges related to Earth and space, organized by NASA and supported by international space agencies.
Have Seeds, Will Travel
In the 2021 edition, we took on the "Have Seeds, Will Travel" challenge: finding innovative ways to grow plants for long-duration space missions, exploring techniques that allow plants to thrive under microgravity and resource-constrained conditions.
Numerous initiatives have focused on growing plants in space, aiming to understand how they adapt to microgravity. Our team's contribution was a self-contained module that monitors and adapts to the plants' biological needs in real time.
About the team
From left to right: Geraldine Pérez (Industrial Designer, PUCP), Eduardo Dolores (Agronomist, UNALM), Bruno Alvarado (Agronomist, UNALM) and me, Edwin Santos (Mechanical Engineer, PUCP). Each member brought unique expertise to develop a comprehensive solution.
Agronomy & Crop Science
Selected crops based on nutritional value, fast growth cycles and adaptability to space conditions. Designed a reusable growth media and a water recycling system.
Mechanical Engineering & Control Systems
I developed the control systems for the plant growth chambers — managing pressure, temperature and humidity. Sensors integrated into a data system allowed astronauts to monitor health remotely.
Design & 3D Modeling
The industrial designer modeled the modular prototype, ensuring it was compact, ergonomic and feasible to manufacture for space deployment.
Revolutionizing Space Agriculture
The final design was a self-contained agricultural module integrating sensors for humidity, mold detection and air pressure. Data flowed in real time into a Grafana dashboard, giving astronauts a single pane of glass to track plant health and intervene early.
News articles & coverage
- Faculty of Science and Engineering: Mechanical Engineering student joins the winning team of the Space Apps Challenge Lima 2021.
- Andina News: Young Peruvians design innovative system to plant in space.
- TV Perú: Young Peruvians design a system to plant in space.
- Gestión: The 12 Peruvian scientific facts that stood out in 2021.
Want to see the other award?
See HEAD Competition Winner