Off-world crops?

[L. Marcus]

Re: Off-world crops?

 

It was half-and-half. ^^

 

I'm not aware of any trials in that direction, no. I must be thinking outside the infamous box.

[Cancer]

Re: Off-world crops?

 

you might use He rather than N2 in your air' date=' to help with buoyant force.[/quote']

 

If part of the function of the plants is to fix nitrogen from the air into nutrients -- and I should think it would be -- that isn't an option.

[Drhoz]

Re: Off-world crops?

 

If vermin somehow get into the supplies before liftoff' date=' they may end up on the dinner table. Maybe a diner on the Moon will serve barbecued rat on a stick. I know how gross that sounds, but details like that help put a little "flavor" (pardon the pun) in the campaign.[/quote']

 

I made a note in one of the colonies in L5' date=' barbecued rat on a stick is considered a popular snack in the bistros.[/quote']

 

There are places in Asia where this is already true.

 

Not just Asia - rat was and in some cases still is the staple meat in parts of Africa and Queensland. But the biggest problem with ratfarming in space - and it's a VERY big problem - is when they escape and chew on something they shouldn't. Like vital wiring.

[lapsedgamer]

Re: Off-world crops?

 

I remember reading on the Atomic Rocket site that yeast could be a go-to food crop for spacefarers. Here is the link. The info is about midway down the page. This is overall a great site, filled with great stuff, especially for you hard science fiction GMs.

 

http://www.projectrho.com/rocket/lifesupport.php

[dmjalund]

Re: Off-world crops?

 

I can't wait until vitamins can be beamed directly from space!

 

[L. Marcus]

Re: Off-world crops?

 

... Vitamin D requires UV radiation to be activated, so you've got your wish (kinda-sorta).

[dmjalund]

Re: Off-world crops?

 

... Vitamin D requires UV radiation to be activated' date=' so you've got your wish (kinda-sorta).[/quote']

Well hello New Order!

[tkdguy]

Re: Off-world crops?

 

Not just Asia - rat was and in some cases still is the staple meat in parts of Africa and Queensland. But the biggest problem with ratfarming in space - and it's a VERY big problem - is when they escape and chew on something they shouldn't. Like vital wiring.

 

Another plot device! Thanks, and repped.

[Burrito Boy]

Re: Off-world crops?

 

I just read Iapetus by William S. Kirby and came across something interesting that you might be able to use in your campaign. One of the underground colonies had suffered an explosion and the main character was asking what had caused it. After being told there were no explosives unaccounted for came this bit of dialogue:

 

"...The people in our engineering division went nuts trying to figure out what happened. They were stumped until Alicia Sanders over in planetary geology came up with an explanation. She's from one of those agricultural districts--Kansbraska, I think. She remembered her grandmother telling her a story about a grain elevator explosion in a neighboring town. All you need to do is get enough fine grain dust in the air and strike a spark. The carbon in the dust undergoes combustion, and boom, no more grain elevator." The young man threw his hands up in emphasis, apparently finished with his story.

 

"But what's the connection between a grain elevator and Rhea?"

 

"It turns out Al-Kirzen is using chemical air purifiers. By raising the temperature a few degrees in the catalytic chamber, you can break down carbon dioxide into elemental carbon dust and diatomic oxygen. Take a few good-sized loads of carbon dust into a room, crank up the oxygen level for good measure, and the carbon does its stuff. Just like back home in the cornfields."

 

"Except for one thing, Mr. Mahitso. People usually don't go around trying to blow things up."

 

He gave an expansive shrug. "Maybe not on Terra, but out here things get strange--mixed up. No atmosphere, no trees, no waterfalls. Sometimes people get a little crazy."

 

 

So there you have two ways for saboteurs to cause trouble. You could either use them in separate adventures--Hey, they're using the same basic principle as those crazy guys who blew up the grain elevator!--or you could have a group use both techniques in the same adventure, blowing up the air purifiers first then the grain elevator and all that food when their demands aren't met.

[tkdguy]

Re: Off-world crops?

 

Good one, Burrito Boy! Thanks for posting it.

[Christopher]

Re: Off-world crops?

 

"...The people in our engineering division went nuts trying to figure out what happened. They were stumped until Alicia Sanders over in planetary geology came up with an explanation. She's from one of those agricultural districts--Kansbraska' date=' I think. She remembered her grandmother telling her a story about a grain elevator explosion in a neighboring town. All you need to do is get enough fine grain dust in the air and strike a spark. The carbon in the dust undergoes combustion, and boom, no more grain elevator." The young man threw his hands up in emphasis, apparently finished with his story.[/quote']

Actually that can be done with any organic (carbon based) matter. You just have to make it to fine enough drops/dust, have enough oxygen and enough heat.

 

This basic principle is what our car engines work on. Especially Disel engines are know for being able to process unusual, carbon based liquid fuel:

It can be driven with most plant oils, oil used for cooking French fries and big tank enigens can even run on manure.

You can even inflame coffee powder if you do it right. Normally the explosive power of such a thing is not much.

 

But every airthight environment is so much more succetible for explosions...