About us
Mr. Bertelsen's Engineering Class is composed of carefully selected students. These students are all part of Chatfield Senior High's Class of 2015. Together, we work in a collaborative and intellectual environment in order to send life into space.
About the project we're working on
Problem statements for the two types of algae we are working with:
Algae: Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
– hydrogen production.
Fuel is a vital part of any space mission, and the ability to produce fuel during the course of a mission would be a great breakthrough for future exploration. Being able to generate fuel in space would be an important step toward a more self-sustaining space station, could allow for course corrections while on orbit, or change the design of long-term space missions. We are investigating the use of algae to produce bio fuels aboard the International Space Station. The algal strain Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has been shown to produce hydrogen through photosynthesis on earth and we hope to demonstrate that the same process will work in micro gravity. If successful, the process would provide a renewable source of fuel on flight that could be used in fuel cells for power, or in engines for spacecraft maneuvers.
Algae: Chlorella vulgaris
–
lipid production.
Fuel is a vital part of any space mission, and the ability to produce fuel during the course of a mission would be a great breakthrough for future exploration. Being able to generate fuel in space would be an important step toward a more self-sustaining space station, could allow for course corrections while on orbit, or change the design of long-term space missions. We are investigating the use of algae to produce bio fuels aboard the International Space Station. The algal strain Chlorella vulgaris has been shown to store lipids under nitrate stress on earth. These lipids can then be refined into several different types of bio fuels, and we hope to demonstrate that the algae will still produce lipids in micro gravity. If successful, the process could provide a renewable source of fuel on flight that could be used in generators for power, or in engines for spacecraft maneuvers.
Algae: Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
– hydrogen production.
Fuel is a vital part of any space mission, and the ability to produce fuel during the course of a mission would be a great breakthrough for future exploration. Being able to generate fuel in space would be an important step toward a more self-sustaining space station, could allow for course corrections while on orbit, or change the design of long-term space missions. We are investigating the use of algae to produce bio fuels aboard the International Space Station. The algal strain Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has been shown to produce hydrogen through photosynthesis on earth and we hope to demonstrate that the same process will work in micro gravity. If successful, the process would provide a renewable source of fuel on flight that could be used in fuel cells for power, or in engines for spacecraft maneuvers.
Algae: Chlorella vulgaris
–
lipid production.
Fuel is a vital part of any space mission, and the ability to produce fuel during the course of a mission would be a great breakthrough for future exploration. Being able to generate fuel in space would be an important step toward a more self-sustaining space station, could allow for course corrections while on orbit, or change the design of long-term space missions. We are investigating the use of algae to produce bio fuels aboard the International Space Station. The algal strain Chlorella vulgaris has been shown to store lipids under nitrate stress on earth. These lipids can then be refined into several different types of bio fuels, and we hope to demonstrate that the algae will still produce lipids in micro gravity. If successful, the process could provide a renewable source of fuel on flight that could be used in generators for power, or in engines for spacecraft maneuvers.