The minimal cost of life in space

Drysdale, Alan; Rutkze, C. J.; Albright, L. D.; Ladue, R.

doi:10.1016/j.asr.2003.02.072

Cited by 11 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Life support systems are mandatory for every closed habitat like space stations or Lunar and planetary outposts because it is virtually impossible to carry along sufficient supplies of water, food and oxygen needed during a long term space mission (Drysdale et al 2003, 2004, Gitelson et al 1995, Tikhomirov et al 2007, Wieland 1998.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eu:CROPIS – “Euglena gracilis: Combined Regenerative Organic-food Production in Space” - A Space Experiment Testing Biological Life Support Systems Under Lunar And Martian Gravity

Hauslage

Strauch

Eßmann

et al. 2018

Microgravity Sci. Technol.

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Human space exploration needs stable life support systems for the supply of oxygen, water and food for each human explorer due to long term missions. The most promising approach for building stable life support systems is a combination of physico-chemical and biological systems. These hybrid systems combine the reliability of physico-chemical and the sustainability of biological life support systems. Also the disadvantages, which are the finite resources of physico-chemical and the imperfect reliability of biological systems, are mutually balanced. To improve the reliability of biological life support systems, a combination of different biological systems may stabilize the whole approach during long term operations. The satellite mission Eu:CROPIS (Euglena gracilis: Combined Regenerative Organic-food Production In Space) is a testbed for investigating the behavior of combined biological life support systems under the influence of altered gravity, here, Lunar and Martian gravity. The core systems are a biological trickle filter for processing urine into a fertilizer solution via nitrification and Euglena gracilis, a photosynthetic protist which is able to produce oxygen and biomass while protecting the whole system against high ammonia concentrations. Keywords Compact satellite • Life support system • Moon • Mars • Reduced gravity • Nitrification Abbreviations ABS acrylonitrile butadiene styrene ACS attitude control system ATP adenosintriphosphate, an energetic molecule for cell metabolism BRLSS biological regenerative life support systems cAMP cyclic adenosinmonophosphate, a messenger molecule CaM2 calmodulin 2

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eu:CROPIS – “Euglena gracilis: Combined Regenerative Organic-food Production in Space” - A Space Experiment Testing Biological Life Support Systems Under Lunar And Martian Gravity

Hauslage

Strauch

Eßmann

et al. 2018

Microgravity Sci. Technol.

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“…Space environment compatibility issues will be resolved (Leonard & Aksamentov 1995, Bartsev et al 1996, Samsonov et al 2000, Drysdale et al 2004. Research efforts will focus on reduced gravity issues with plants and multi-phase systems (Berkovitch 1995, Bingham et al 1995, Musgrave et al 2000, Kitaya et al 2000, Stout et al 2001, Kostov et al 2002, Evetts et al 2005, NashashibiRabah et al 2005, ionizing radiation susceptibility of living organisms (plants, bacteria) (Horneck 1999), low pressure operations and possible psychological benefits of the greenhouse system (availability of fresh food, environment similar to earth, smell, flavours) for the crew in isolation (Harrison & Summit 1991, Lugg & Shepanek 1999, Suedfeld & Steel 2000, Shepanek 2005.…”

Section: Cab Project Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant bioregenerative life supports: The Italian CAB Project

Lobascio

Lamantea

Cotronei

et al. 2007

Journal of Plant Interactions

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The sectors of technological and scientific concern are practically all the ones typical for life support systems in the frame of long duration human missions; i.e., food production, in particular via the cultivation of higher plants, and food management; air regeneration (production of O 2 , removal of CO 2 , trace gas control); water regeneration (urine processing, gray water processing, potable water management); solid waste processing; resources allocation and storage; control of environmental conditions (Thermal-hygrometric, light, pressure, radiation, etc).

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“…Even in the case where these are the backbones of life-support systems, biological modules could both complement them and provide safe redundancies. Consequently, various bioregenerative lifesupport systems (BLSS) are or have been under development for recycling food, water and gases both in space (e.g., Godia et al 2002;Gitelson et al 2003;Drysdale et al 2004;Lobascio et al 2007;Nelson et al 2010;Giacomelli et al 2012) and within lunar and Martian outposts (e.g., Gitelson 1992;Blüm et al 1994;Tikhomirov et al 2007;Nelson et al 2010). This may sound promising: instead of sending resources in amounts almost proportional to the mission length, only a few weeks' worth of consumables would be sent and recycled.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable life support on Mars – the potential roles of cyanobacteria

Verseux

Baqué

Lehto

et al. 2015

International Journal of Astrobiology

144

136

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Even though technological advances could allow humans to reach Mars in the coming decades, launch costs prohibit the establishment of permanent manned outposts for which most consumables would be sent from Earth. This issue can be addressed by in situ resource utilization: producing part or all of these consumables on Mars, from local resources. Biological components are needed, among other reasons because various resources could be efficiently produced only by the use of biological systems. But most plants and microorganisms are unable to exploit Martian resources, and sending substrates from Earth to support their metabolism would strongly limit the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of their cultivation. However, resources needed to grow specific cyanobacteria are available on Mars due to their photosynthetic abilities, nitrogen-fixing activities and lithotrophic lifestyles. They could be used directly for various applications, including the production of food, fuel and oxygen, but also indirectly: products from their culture could support the growth of other organisms, opening the way to a wide range of life-support biological processes based on Martian resources. Here we give insights into how and why cyanobacteria could play a role in the development of self-sustainable manned outposts on Mars.

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The minimal cost of life in space

Cited by 11 publications

References 4 publications

Eu:CROPIS – “Euglena gracilis: Combined Regenerative Organic-food Production in Space” - A Space Experiment Testing Biological Life Support Systems Under Lunar And Martian Gravity

Eu:CROPIS – “Euglena gracilis: Combined Regenerative Organic-food Production in Space” - A Space Experiment Testing Biological Life Support Systems Under Lunar And Martian Gravity

Plant bioregenerative life supports: The Italian CAB Project

Sustainable life support on Mars – the potential roles of cyanobacteria

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