From Handicrafts to Habitat: Investigating Terite's Applications in Space
Authors: Cuffie Brandon 
Published: July 2023

The challenges associated with prolonged human space exploration
missions require sustainable and innovative approaches to ensure the health
and well-being of astronauts. Many indigenous plants around the world can
potentially serve as valuable resources for long-duration space missions.
The raw material Ischnosiphon Axouma commonly known as (Terite) is
indigenous to the island of Trinidad. Before the 15th century, terite was
used in weaving by the island's indigenous inhabitants to make household
items, such as baskets for fishing, jewelry, and utensils that lasted a
lifetime. Some of the weaving techniques used have been passed on to
generations and are present today. The terite is cut from the stalk and
split into equal widths to extract the raw material strands. The roots are
left intact to ensure continuous growth; they self-replenish. The strands
produce eco-friendly craft items such as; tabletops, lampshades, book
covers, plates, teacup holders, and more. The leaves have the potential to
be used to make sanitary plates and bowls. The inner part of the stalk is
used as a natural fertilizer for plants. Thus most of the Terite plant can
be utilised with minimum wastage. In this paper, a design thinking approach
is outlined to help us identify and evaluate potential experiments that
could yield innovative solutions to the challenges of space habitation. It
also identifies the areas of study and the considerations that are necessary
to long-duration space travel and the potential for the development of space
tourism within the Caribbean region.In this paper, we propose potential
experiments to begin to explore terite as a sustainable and multifunctional
resource in space. The experiments are as follows:(1) Cultivation and
processing: Experiments done in this area would focus on optimizing the
cultivation and processing of Terite in space habitats and other planets.
This would involve testing the feasibility of growing Terite in different
conditions, including various lighting and temperature settings.
Additionally, we would investigate the best methods for processing Terite,
such as drying and extracting its fibres, to maximize its usefulness as a
resource.(2) Construction Application: these experiments would examine
Terite's potential applications as a material for construction in space
habitats. We would test its mechanical properties, such as its tensile
strength, elasticity, and toughness, to determine its suitability for
different engineering applications and astronaut personal items to survive
under space conditions. Additionally, we would investigate its compatibility
with other materials commonly used in space habitats, such as metals and
plastics.(3) Reinforced 3D printing: the experiment would aim to determine
whether Terite fibers can be a useful and sustainable reinforcement for 3D
printing in space, providing additional strength and durability to printed
objects while reducing the need for synthetic materials.By taking a design
thinking approach, we can not only explore the potential of Terite as a
valuable resource for space exploration and long-duration space missions but
also uncover new opportunities for innovation and collaboration across
different fields and disciplines. Ultimately, this approach can help us
design more sustainable, efficient, and user-centred solutions for the
challenges of space habitation.