Bio-regenerative Life Support Systems for Space Surface Applications

Sadler, Phil; Giacomelli, G. A.; Patterson, R. L.; Kaçıra, Murat; Furfaro, Roberto; Lobascio, Cesare; Boscheri, Giorgio; Lamantea, M.; Grizzaffi, L.; Rossignoli, S.; Pirolli, Marzia; DePascale, S.

doi:10.2514/6.2011-5133

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…CELSS architectures are hierarchically modular, separating human habitation, plant cultivation, animal husbandry and microbial waste treatment which can be further subdivided [ 41 ]. They should be highly functionally redundant with multiple approaches to any specific function, i.e., there should always be physicochemical backup systems as far as possible [ 42 ]. A three-tiered architecture with planning–reactive-servo levels is considered suitable for controlling a complex life support system [ 43 ].…”

Section: Bioregenerative Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supplementing Closed Ecological Life Support Systems with In-Situ Resources on the Moon

Ellery

2021

Life

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In this review, I explore a broad-based view of technologies for supporting human activities on the Moon and, where appropriate, Mars. Primarily, I assess the state of life support systems technology beginning with physicochemical processes, waste processing, bioregenerative methods, food production systems and the robotics and advanced biological technologies that support the latter. We observe that the Moon possesses in-situ resources but that these resources are of limited value in closed ecological life support systems (CELSS)—indeed, CELSS technology is most mature in recycling water and oxygen, the two resources that are abundant on the Moon. This places a premium on developing CELSS that recycle other elements that are rarified on the Moon including C and N in particular but also other elements such as P, S and K which might be challenging to extract from local resources. Although we focus on closed loop ecological life support systems, we also consider related technologies that involve the application of biological organisms to bioregenerative medical technologies and bioregenerative approaches to industrial activity on the Moon as potential future developments.

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Section: Bioregenerative Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supplementing Closed Ecological Life Support Systems with In-Situ Resources on the Moon

Ellery

2021

Life

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“…Some design studies for future Lunar or Martian bases 10,11 consider the use of deployable structures to reduce its mass and the volume occupied inside the launch and transfer vehicles. Such greenhouse modules arrive at the destination in a folded or packaged configuration and have to be unfolded and deployed before the first seedlings can be planted in the grow area.…”

Section: Start-up Phasementioning

confidence: 99%

Combination of Physico-Chemical Life Support Systems with Space Greenhouse Modules: A System Analysis

Zabel

Schubert

2013

43rd International Conference on Environmental Systems

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The cultivation of higher plants occupies an essential role within bio-regenerative life support systems. It contributes to all major functional aspects by closing the different loops in a habitat like food production, CO 2 reduction, O 2 production, waste recycling and water management. Fresh crops are also expected to have a positive impact towards the crew's psychological health. Nevertheless, plant cultivation in closed environments is challenging and further research on system, subsystem and crop level is required. The controlling and maintaining of closed environment agriculture systems such as space greenhouse modules is difficult due to lack of buffer capacity, low flexibility concerning varying crew size and eclipse periods, and the absence of backup systems in case of plant and system failures. The addition of physico-chemical (P/C) life support systems (LSS) as an intermediate system between the greenhouse module and the habitat/spacecraft has the potential to reduce or even eliminate the mentioned difficulties of greenhouse modules. This paper will investigate the potential of combining components of physico-chemical systems with greenhouse modules to increase the readiness of the latter. This would allow the creation of a more efficient life support systems by taking advantage of the experience gained in physico-chemical technologies and the related reliability and heritage of these technologies.

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“…There are two other notable inflatable space greenhouse concepts. Firstly, the Lunar Greenhouse (LGH) concept from the University of Arizona [24] and secondly, the Astro Garden System by Orbitec SNC [25].…”

Section: Comparison To Other Conceptsmentioning

confidence: 99%

From ice to space: a greenhouse design for Moon or Mars based on a prototype deployed in Antarctica

et al. 2020

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The future of human space exploration is aimed at long-term missions to Moon and Mars. Currently, plans are elaborated by NASA, ESA, CNSA and others for a return to the lunar environment within the next decade as an intermediate step towards the goal of reaching the surface of Mars. For sustenance and crew comfort the crew of such long-duration missions should be provided with fresh food on the lunar or Martian surface. Due to the associated power demand, the required resources and technological complexity, this is a major challenge for this kind of missions. To continuously provide fresh food without the need for cargo transfer from Earth towards Moon or Mars an on-site greenhouse system is required, producing the fresh food in situ. The associated effort and cost for all resources to be transported to the base of operation prohibit any waste of resources, requiring a system operating in a (nearly) closed loop. Developing and validating a prototype for an effective and efficient greenhouse, labeled future exploration greenhouse (FEG) for space exploration has been the goal of the EDEN ISS project, funded by the EU, in the past 4 years. This paper shows the results of a design elaboration of the FEG into a greenhouse for planetary deployment on Moon or Mars. Guided by lessons learned from operating the FEG in Antarctica for one year and based on assumptions concerning the mission scenario, e.g. assuming an existing base infrastructure on-site, the presented design incorporates a plant growth area which is more than a factor of two larger than the prototype. The total mass of the cylindrical system, including equipment required during launch, transfer and landing, is about 19 mT, fitting into a Falcon 9 launcher. The versatile design is compatible with a wide variety of mission scenarios, e.g. ESA’s Moon Village, and currently public mission plans.

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Bio-regenerative Life Support Systems for Space Surface Applications

Cited by 9 publications

References 14 publications

Supplementing Closed Ecological Life Support Systems with In-Situ Resources on the Moon

Supplementing Closed Ecological Life Support Systems with In-Situ Resources on the Moon

Combination of Physico-Chemical Life Support Systems with Space Greenhouse Modules: A System Analysis

From ice to space: a greenhouse design for Moon or Mars based on a prototype deployed in Antarctica

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