OrbHab Paper
Bioregenerative Life Support Systems: Coordinated Research into Organisms, Technology and Systems Integration (2023)
ID: 391 Flag Paper
Title: Bioregenerative Life Support Systems: Coordinated Research into Organisms, Technology and Systems Integration
Authors: J. Shevtsov, C. Escobar, A. Schuerger, C. Trouillefou
Journal Name: Biological and Physical Sciences in Space Decadal Survey 2023
Year of Publication: 2023
Page Number:
Category: noosphere
Availability: pdf
Detail Page: /papers/391
Web Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357270624_Bioregenerative_Life_Support_Systems_Coordinated_Research_into_Organisms_Technology_and_Systems_Integration
BoK Link: [[paper:391]]
Abstract
An Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) for spacecraftsatisfies the physiological needs of the crew by revitalizing the atmosphere, maintainingtemperature and humidity, providing food and water, and removing wastes. As we travel furtherbeyond low Earth orbit, the increased cost of resupply and resource constraints (e.g., volume,power, and crew time) will necessitate life support systems with higher efficiency, autonomy,and mass closure than the physicochemical (PC) systems in use today1, 2. NASA’s technologyroadmap states that self-sufficient life support systems are crucial for sustaining life on long-duration missions3. Several NASA needs assessments identify closed regenerative life support asan enabling technology for long-term sustained human exploration, including the Lunar HumanExploration Strategic Knowledge Gap (SKG III-J-3), Decadal Survey on Biological and PhysicalSciences in Space Studies (DSBPS TSES6 and P3), NASA 2020 Technology Taxonomy(TX06.3.5), and Global Exploration Roadmap.Just as on Earth, living organisms can provide multiple life support functions in space, byrecycling waste products to generate O2, water, and food. Living systems can reproduce and self-repair, allowing continuous functioning. Organisms, especially plants, also have a positivepsychological impact on crew4. Space agencies have researched the use of plants for life supportand supplemental food production for decades, making bioregenerative life support systems(BLSS) one of the most enduring themes for space life science research5 - 16.BLSS development, closure, and capacity must evolve with exploration mission duration,distance, and complexity, with a phased approach. Near-term missions will demonstrate keyconcepts and validate components in the space environment while ground analogs test integratedtechnologies. BLSS components can eventually integrate with more permanent habitationsystems17, 2. Efficient and reliable space life support will require integration of biological and PCcomponents into an engineered ecosystem that sustains the crew and itself. This paper discussesand recommends critical areas of research and development at organismal, system, andtechnology levels to realize space-viable biological systems for space life support.
Title: Bioregenerative Life Support Systems: Coordinated Research into Organisms, Technology and Systems Integration
Authors: J. Shevtsov, C. Escobar, A. Schuerger, C. Trouillefou
Journal Name: Biological and Physical Sciences in Space Decadal Survey 2023
Year of Publication: 2023
Page Number:
Category: noosphere
Availability: pdf
Detail Page: /papers/391
Web Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357270624_Bioregenerative_Life_Support_Systems_Coordinated_Research_into_Organisms_Technology_and_Systems_Integration
BoK Link: [[paper:391]]
Abstract
An Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) for spacecraftsatisfies the physiological needs of the crew by revitalizing the atmosphere, maintainingtemperature and humidity, providing food and water, and removing wastes. As we travel furtherbeyond low Earth orbit, the increased cost of resupply and resource constraints (e.g., volume,power, and crew time) will necessitate life support systems with higher efficiency, autonomy,and mass closure than the physicochemical (PC) systems in use today1, 2. NASA’s technologyroadmap states that self-sufficient life support systems are crucial for sustaining life on long-duration missions3. Several NASA needs assessments identify closed regenerative life support asan enabling technology for long-term sustained human exploration, including the Lunar HumanExploration Strategic Knowledge Gap (SKG III-J-3), Decadal Survey on Biological and PhysicalSciences in Space Studies (DSBPS TSES6 and P3), NASA 2020 Technology Taxonomy(TX06.3.5), and Global Exploration Roadmap.Just as on Earth, living organisms can provide multiple life support functions in space, byrecycling waste products to generate O2, water, and food. Living systems can reproduce and self-repair, allowing continuous functioning. Organisms, especially plants, also have a positivepsychological impact on crew4. Space agencies have researched the use of plants for life supportand supplemental food production for decades, making bioregenerative life support systems(BLSS) one of the most enduring themes for space life science research5 - 16.BLSS development, closure, and capacity must evolve with exploration mission duration,distance, and complexity, with a phased approach. Near-term missions will demonstrate keyconcepts and validate components in the space environment while ground analogs test integratedtechnologies. BLSS components can eventually integrate with more permanent habitationsystems17, 2. Efficient and reliable space life support will require integration of biological and PCcomponents into an engineered ecosystem that sustains the crew and itself. This paper discussesand recommends critical areas of research and development at organismal, system, andtechnology levels to realize space-viable biological systems for space life support.