OrbHab Paper
Main Focuses On The Use Of Higher Plant Growth Models For Life Support Systems (2022)
ID: 392 Flag Paper
Title: Main Focuses On The Use Of Higher Plant Growth Models For Life Support Systems
Authors: J. Kuzma1, J. Fontaine, L. Poulet, C. Dussap
Journal Name: 51st International Conference on Environmental Systems
Year of Publication: 2022
Page Number:
Category: biosphere
Availability: pdf
Detail Page: /papers/392
Web Link: https://hal.science/hal-04383813/document
BoK Link: [[paper:392]]
Abstract
In long-term plans for space exploration investigated by major space agencies, theexploration of the Moon or Mars involves solving many technological problems. One ofthem is the development of an efficient and robust life-support system. A one-way trip toMars will take between 6 to 8 months with current technology. According to NASA’seconomic calculations, for each trip over 10 months, at least 15% of the food for astronautsshould be produced onboard. To make this possible it is necessary to switch fromphysicochemical (PC) systems in charge of recycling water and oxygen and stabilizationof waste - such as the one on the International Space Station - to hybrid ones where partof the system can be based on similar PC technology and part of it is based on biologicalprocesses in order to produce edible biomass, e.g. to grow plants. The European SpaceAgency MELiSSA (Micro-Ecological Life-Support System Alternative) project mimics alake ecosystem. It consists of a closed-loop bio-regenerative system based onmicroorganisms and higher plants and provides circular cycling of mass, including foodand O2 production, CO2 capture and water recycling. As the growth and development ofhigher plants are strongly influenced by the environmental conditions (gravity, pressure,temperature, humidity, partial pressure of O2 and CO2), bio-regenerative life-supportsystems require a high level of control and management. In systems that include plants, itis possible to use transpiring water as a source of potable water for astronauts, which inturn can reduce the need for physical purification systems. For this to be possible, it isnecessary to understand in depth how the various parameters affect the plant growth andtranspiration process - especially in closed systems. Most of the existing plant growthmodels do not consider gravity, radiation, or CO2 concentration as a variable parameters.However, over the last years, new models of plant growth are being developed incontrolled environments. This article presents general overview of the existing modelswith a focus on the ones that include external parameters to analyze the influence of eachone on the global system in space applications. The article also highlights the work thatstill needs to be done to understand the impact of certain parameters on plant growth fora closed-systems application.
Title: Main Focuses On The Use Of Higher Plant Growth Models For Life Support Systems
Authors: J. Kuzma1, J. Fontaine, L. Poulet, C. Dussap
Journal Name: 51st International Conference on Environmental Systems
Year of Publication: 2022
Page Number:
Category: biosphere
Availability: pdf
Detail Page: /papers/392
Web Link: https://hal.science/hal-04383813/document
BoK Link: [[paper:392]]
Abstract
In long-term plans for space exploration investigated by major space agencies, theexploration of the Moon or Mars involves solving many technological problems. One ofthem is the development of an efficient and robust life-support system. A one-way trip toMars will take between 6 to 8 months with current technology. According to NASA’seconomic calculations, for each trip over 10 months, at least 15% of the food for astronautsshould be produced onboard. To make this possible it is necessary to switch fromphysicochemical (PC) systems in charge of recycling water and oxygen and stabilizationof waste - such as the one on the International Space Station - to hybrid ones where partof the system can be based on similar PC technology and part of it is based on biologicalprocesses in order to produce edible biomass, e.g. to grow plants. The European SpaceAgency MELiSSA (Micro-Ecological Life-Support System Alternative) project mimics alake ecosystem. It consists of a closed-loop bio-regenerative system based onmicroorganisms and higher plants and provides circular cycling of mass, including foodand O2 production, CO2 capture and water recycling. As the growth and development ofhigher plants are strongly influenced by the environmental conditions (gravity, pressure,temperature, humidity, partial pressure of O2 and CO2), bio-regenerative life-supportsystems require a high level of control and management. In systems that include plants, itis possible to use transpiring water as a source of potable water for astronauts, which inturn can reduce the need for physical purification systems. For this to be possible, it isnecessary to understand in depth how the various parameters affect the plant growth andtranspiration process - especially in closed systems. Most of the existing plant growthmodels do not consider gravity, radiation, or CO2 concentration as a variable parameters.However, over the last years, new models of plant growth are being developed incontrolled environments. This article presents general overview of the existing modelswith a focus on the ones that include external parameters to analyze the influence of eachone on the global system in space applications. The article also highlights the work thatstill needs to be done to understand the impact of certain parameters on plant growth fora closed-systems application.