Menu Optimization for an Earth-based Advanced Life Support System (ALSS) Test Bed Considering Crop Cultivation Scheduling

Abstract

The Closed Ecology Experiment Facilities (CEEF) is an Earth-based Advanced Life Support System (ALSS) test bed in Japan. A diet optimization model for the CEEF was developed using mixed integer linear programming (MILP) to consider crop cultivation scheduling. The diet optimization model provided a feasible minimized cultivation area for the CEEF using input cultivation data from the CEEF and assumptions for the habitation experiment. A practical, utilizable cultivation schedule was generated using the decision variables of the result and then verified. The developed schedule could supply necessary ingredients for the optimized diet with appropriate timing, although there were some practical issues on cultivation including complexity of the planting and scheduling.programming model to optimize the cultivation planning for four crops in an Earth-based ALSS test bed named BIO-Plex. Masuda et al. (6) also utilized this approach, minimizing the cultivation area for 26 crops and 4 processed ingredients under constraints of 36 nutritional requirements, to develop a cultivation area plan for another Earth-based ALSS test bed, the Closed Ecology Experiment Facilities (CEEF), in Japan.For long-duration missions, not only nutritional requirements but also diet menu acceptability is a significant factor to keep a healthy psychological state for crewmembers. Hunter et al.(3) developed a linear programming model using numbers of recipes for the decision variables. Their model generated 1day menus by including nutritional and acceptability constraints, while minimizing the Equivalent System Mass (ESM) as an objective function. Olabi and Hunter (8) expanded the model to form 2-week menus. Waters et al. (9) also utilized the method to form 10-day menus for MELiSSA. Most of these