Closed bioregenerative life support systems: Applicability to hot deserts

Growth and Essential Carotenoid Micronutrients in Lemna gibba as a Function of Growth Light Intensity

“…Duckweed grows continuously by propagation and is among the fastest-growing plants with respect to its doubling rate, e.g., doubling its biomass in as little as 1 to 3 days (Ziegler et al, 2015). Duckweed has, therefore, received attention as a potential crew food supplement or wastewater treatment for the human space program (Ward and Wilks, 1963;Wilks, 1964;Woverton and McDonald, 1977;Gale et al, 1989;Bluem and Paris, 2001;Polyakov et al, 2010). Moreover, Yuan and Xu (2017) found that simulated microgravity actually stimulated duckweed growth and called duckweed "one of the most attractive higher plants" for long-duration space life support.…”

Electric Polarization-Dependent Absorption and Photocurrent Generation in Limnospira indica Immobilized on Boron-Doped Diamond

“…The use of living organisms for conversion of solar energy to value-added products through the process of photosynthesis is an exciting field of research that has regained interest recently. , Photosynthetic organisms, particularly algae and cyanobacteria, can be deployed on various scales to generate electricity, produce biofuels, synthesize valuable compounds, or drive other electrochemical reactions, including those for biosensing, depending on the specific biological components and electrode materials used. Since biophotoelectrochemical cells (BPECs) utilize the natural process of photosynthesis and maintain their performance as long as a stable provision of photonic energy of adequate wavelength and necessary nutrients is guaranteed, they are considered for integration into regenerative life support systems (closed-loop systems), such as those used in space exploration or other harsh environments like deserts. , BPECs and larger bioreactors in space can generate electricity while recycle carbon dioxide, generate oxygen and biomass to be utilized either as supplementary food, biofertilizer or as construction material (in the form of biopolymers), and a range of biofuels and chemical products in the context of in situ resource utilization, contributing to durable self-sustaining environments for space travel and colonization. , …”

“…Since biophotoelectrochemical cells (BPECs) utilize the natural process of photosynthesis and maintain their performance as long as a stable provision of photonic energy of adequate wavelength and necessary nutrients is guaranteed, they are considered for integration into regenerative life support systems (closed-loop systems), such as those used in space exploration or other harsh environments like deserts. 7 , 8 BPECs and larger bioreactors in space can generate electricity while recycle carbon dioxide, generate oxygen and biomass to be utilized either as supplementary food, 9 biofertilizer 10 or as construction material (in the form of biopolymers), and a range of biofuels and chemical products in the context of in situ resource utilization, 11 contributing to durable self-sustaining environments for space travel and colonization. 7 , 12 …”