Aeroponics

How It Works in HexaFlow

In microgravity, plants grow on the TDC Delivery System with roots absorbing water directly from the channel system — sidestepping the complications of substrate-water interaction in zero gravity.

Plant clips secure vegetation both on Earth and in space. Inserted into TDC holes, they grip the stem firmly enough that the team verified retention by inverting the TDC with kale threaded through both clips for one full minute — plants stayed put.

Aeroponics is the primary growing method because it removes the substrate from the equation — no growing medium for water to interact with in microgravity. The AI vision model reads root moisture from the camera feed and waters only when the roots are dry, a continuous feedback loop that prevents root rot.

The customizable water/nutrient reservoir is built from recyclable materials — a plastic bag, a VEX fitting, and a heat sealer — a modular design that scales across HexaFlow configurations and future expansion.