A Review on Human Interplanetary Exploration Challenges

M, Malaya Kumar Biswal; Kumar, Ramesh; Das, Noor Basanta; Srivardini, A

doi:10.2514/6.2022-2585

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Case 4 (Mars, developed logistics) envisages a fully developed and integrated biomanufactory where essential logistic resupply is enabled by interplanetary networks and deep-space outposts [42][43][44] , combined with extensive ISRU and LC. Specifically, this case would entail sustained human operations on Mars on the verge of permanent settlement.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biomanufacturing for Space-Exploration – What to Take and When to Make

Averesch¹,

Berliner²,

Nangle³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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As renewed interest in human space-exploration intensifies, a coherent and modernized strategy for mission-design and planning has become increasingly crucial. Biotechnology has emerged as a promising approach to increase mission resilience, flexibility, and efficiency by virtue of its ability to efficiently utilize in situ resources and reclaim resources from waste streams. Since its infancy during the Apollo years, biotechnology, and specifically biomanufacturing, have witnessed significant expansions of scope and scale. Here we outline four primary mission classes, on Luna and Mars, that drive a staged and accretive biomanufacturing strategy. Each class requires a unique approach to integrate biomanufacturing into the existing mission architecture and so faces unique challenges in technology development.These challenges stem directly from the resources available in a given mission class – the degree to which feedstocks are derived from cargo and in situ resources – and the degree to which loop-closure is necessary. We see that as mission duration and distance from Earth increase, the benefits of specialized sustainable biomanufacturing processes increases. Here we present a strategic approach, guided by technoeconomics, to development, testing, and deployment of these technologies serves to nucleate the larger effort of supporting a sustained human presence in space. The processes needed for each scenario spans the technical breadth of synthetic biology to design engineering, from sophisticated genetic tailoring of chassis-organisms to building scalable, automated, easily operable bioreactors and processing systems. As space-related technology development often does, these advancements are likely to have profound implications for the creation of a stable, resilient bioeconomy on Earth.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biomanufacturing for Space-Exploration – What to Take and When to Make

Averesch¹,

Berliner²,

Nangle³

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In the light of the growing interest in exploring and exploiting the resources of other planets within our solar system (Buchanan, 2017), the success of publicly and privately funded space initiatives (Seedhouse, 2016) and a consensus that long-distance space travel has become technologically feasible (Biswal et al, 2022), the next frontier in space travel is ensuring the health and wellbeing of astronauts on long-duration space missions. Sojourns in space are a source of environmental (radiation and zero-gravity effects) (Young and Sutton, 2021), physiological (energy balance changes, bone mass loss, gut dysbiosis, and micronutrient deficiency) (Bergouignan et al, 2016), and psychological (isolation, confinement, and existential distress) stress (Bergouignan et al, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A long trip into the universe: Psychedelics and space travel

Lerer¹,

Varia²

2022

Front. Space Technol.

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Prolonged periods in space have potentially deleterious physiological and psychological effects. Ensuring the physical health and mental well-being of astronauts will inevitably supersede the need for technological innovation, as the major challenge in long-duration space travel. We propose a role for psychedelics (psychoactive fungal, plant, and animal molecules that cause alterations in perception, mood, behavior, and consciousness) and in particular psychedelic mushrooms to facilitate extended sojourns in space. Psychedelics research is in the midst of a renaissance and psychedelics are being explored not only for their therapeutic potential in psychiatry but also for their ability to promote neuroplasticity, modulate the immune system and reduce inflammation. Psychedelics may be to long-duration space travel in the 21st century, what citrus fruits were to long-distance sea travel in the 18th century—breakthrough and facilitatory. The human intergalactic experience is just beginning and it would be wise to consider the benefits of ensuring that astronauts undertaking potentially perilous space voyages benefit from our planet’s rich psychedelic heritage. There is also some justification for considering the application of psychedelics in the processing and integration of the profound and spiritual experience of deep space travel.

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Microbial biomanufacturing for space-exploration—what to take and when to make

et al. 2023

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As renewed interest in human space-exploration intensifies, a coherent and modernized strategy for mission design and planning has become increasingly crucial. Biotechnology has emerged as a promising approach to increase resilience, flexibility, and efficiency of missions, by virtue of its ability to effectively utilize in situ resources and reclaim resources from waste streams. Here we outline four primary mission-classes on Moon and Mars that drive a staged and accretive biomanufacturing strategy. Each class requires a unique approach to integrate biomanufacturing into the existing mission-architecture and so faces unique challenges in technology development. These challenges stem directly from the resources available in a given mission-class—the degree to which feedstocks are derived from cargo and in situ resources—and the degree to which loop-closure is necessary. As mission duration and distance from Earth increase, the benefits of specialized, sustainable biomanufacturing processes also increase. Consequentially, we define specific design-scenarios and quantify the usefulness of in-space biomanufacturing, to guide techno-economics of space-missions. Especially materials emerged as a potentially pivotal target for biomanufacturing with large impact on up-mass cost. Subsequently, we outline the processes needed for development, testing, and deployment of requisite technologies. As space-related technology development often does, these advancements are likely to have profound implications for the creation of a resilient circular bioeconomy on Earth.

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A Review on Human Interplanetary Exploration Challenges

Cited by 6 publications

References 54 publications

Biomanufacturing for Space-Exploration – What to Take and When to Make

Biomanufacturing for Space-Exploration – What to Take and When to Make

A long trip into the universe: Psychedelics and space travel

Microbial biomanufacturing for space-exploration—what to take and when to make

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