OrbHab Paper
Plants For Human Life Support In Space: From Myers To Mars (2010)
ID: 396 Flag Paper
Title: Plants For Human Life Support In Space: From Myers To Mars
Authors: R. Wheeler
Journal Name: Gravitational and Space Biology
Year of Publication: 2010
Page Number:
Category: biosphere
Availability: pdf
Detail Page: /papers/396
Web Link: file:///C:/Users/DevPC/Downloads/Plants_for_human_life_support_in_space_From_Myers_.pdf
BoK Link: [[paper:396]]
Abstract
Bioregenerative life support systems have been discussed sincethe writings of Tsiolkovsky in the early 20th century. Central tothe concept is the use of photosynthetic organisms to regenerateair and food. Bioregenerative research expanded rapidly in the1950s and 60s through the work of Jack Myers and colleagues,and focused largely on algal systems. Testing even includedspace flight experiments by Herb Ward in the 1960s, butbioregenerative research in the USA decreased soon after this. Incontrast, the Russian BIOS projects led by Josef Gitelson andHenry Lisovsky maintained a steady pace of bioregenerativeresearch from the 1960s through the 1980s, including tests withhuman crews lasting up to several months. Around 1980, NASAinitiated its Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems (CELSS)Program, which focused on higher plant (crop) testing. In the late1980s through the 1990s, findings from university CELSSresearchers were used to conduct tests at NASA’s Kennedy SpaceCenter in a large, atmospherically closed chamber. Related testswith humans and regenerative life support systems weresubsequently conducted at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in themid 1990s, and a large-scale bioregenerative test bed called BIO-Plex was planned but never completed. A likely scenario forimplementing bioregenerative life support might start with asmall plant growth unit to produce some fresh foods for theInternational Space Station or early lunar missions. Theplantings might be expanded for longer duration lunar missions,which would then provide an opportunity to assess concepts forMars missions, where bioregenerative life support will play amore crucial role.
Title: Plants For Human Life Support In Space: From Myers To Mars
Authors: R. Wheeler
Journal Name: Gravitational and Space Biology
Year of Publication: 2010
Page Number:
Category: biosphere
Availability: pdf
Detail Page: /papers/396
Web Link: file:///C:/Users/DevPC/Downloads/Plants_for_human_life_support_in_space_From_Myers_.pdf
BoK Link: [[paper:396]]
Abstract
Bioregenerative life support systems have been discussed sincethe writings of Tsiolkovsky in the early 20th century. Central tothe concept is the use of photosynthetic organisms to regenerateair and food. Bioregenerative research expanded rapidly in the1950s and 60s through the work of Jack Myers and colleagues,and focused largely on algal systems. Testing even includedspace flight experiments by Herb Ward in the 1960s, butbioregenerative research in the USA decreased soon after this. Incontrast, the Russian BIOS projects led by Josef Gitelson andHenry Lisovsky maintained a steady pace of bioregenerativeresearch from the 1960s through the 1980s, including tests withhuman crews lasting up to several months. Around 1980, NASAinitiated its Controlled Ecological Life Support Systems (CELSS)Program, which focused on higher plant (crop) testing. In the late1980s through the 1990s, findings from university CELSSresearchers were used to conduct tests at NASA’s Kennedy SpaceCenter in a large, atmospherically closed chamber. Related testswith humans and regenerative life support systems weresubsequently conducted at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in themid 1990s, and a large-scale bioregenerative test bed called BIO-Plex was planned but never completed. A likely scenario forimplementing bioregenerative life support might start with asmall plant growth unit to produce some fresh foods for theInternational Space Station or early lunar missions. Theplantings might be expanded for longer duration lunar missions,which would then provide an opportunity to assess concepts forMars missions, where bioregenerative life support will play amore crucial role.