Microalgae cultivation for space exploration: Assessing the potential for a new generation of waste to human life-support system for long duration space travel and planetary human habitation

Revellame, Emmanuel; Aguda, Remil; Chistoserdov, Andrei Y.; Fortela, Dhan Lord; Hernández, Rafael; Zappi, Mark E.

doi:10.1016/j.algal.2021.102258

Cited by 26 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Current research is ongoing to successfully support astronauts' food and oxygen needs for long-term space exploration journeys including to Mars (Massa et al, 2017). The results of this research underscore the critical need for advanced BLSS to support human life during extended space flight and on long planetary surface expeditions (Monje et al, 2003;Revellame et al, 2021). Algae are considered an excellent food source for astronauts because they (1) contain all the essential amino acids, (2) are more digestible than traditional plant protein and (3) grow faster than traditional crops (wheat, rice, corn, etc.)…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Future human space exploration may include returning to the moon, as well as missions to Mars ( Henn, 2013 ; Martinez et al, 2013 ; National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2016 ), with NASA aiming to send humans to Mars by the 2030s ( Miranda, 2020 ). Current research and planning to send crewed missions to Mars for long term space exploration has underscored the critical need for advanced Bio-regenerative Life Support Systems (BLSS), which are complex mixtures of biological and engineering systems that include atmosphere revitalization, water recycling, food production, and organic waste recycling ( Revellame et al, 2021 ). Algae, which produce much of the oxygen on Earth, can similarly be used to recycle CO 2 and provide O 2 and food to astronauts ( Häder, 2020 ), and therefore, have previously been proposed for space life support systems ( Averner et al, 1984 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Investigating the Growth of Algae Under Low Atmospheric Pressures for Potential Food and Oxygen Production on Mars

et al. 2021

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With long-term missions to Mars and beyond that would not allow resupply, a self-sustaining Bioregenerative Life Support System (BLSS) is essential. Algae are promising candidates for BLSS due to their completely edible biomass, fast growth rates and ease of handling. Extremophilic algae such as snow algae and halophilic algae may also be especially suited for a BLSS because of their ability to grow under extreme conditions. However, as indicated from over 50 prior space studies examining algal growth, little is known about the growth of algae at close to Mars-relevant pressures. Here, we explored the potential for five algae species to produce oxygen and food under low-pressure conditions relevant to Mars. These included Chloromonas brevispina, Kremastochrysopsis austriaca, Dunaliella salina, Chlorella vulgaris, and Spirulina plantensis. The cultures were grown in duplicate in a low-pressure growth chamber at 670 ± 20 mbar, 330 ± 20 mbar, 160 ± 20 mbar, and 80 ± 2.5 mbar pressures under continuous light exposure (62–70 μmol m–2 s–1). The atmosphere was evacuated and purged with CO2 after sampling each week. Growth experiments showed that D. salina, C. brevispina, and C. vulgaris were the best candidates to be used for BLSS at low pressure. The highest carrying capacities for each species under low pressure conditions were achieved by D. salina at 160 mbar (30.0 ± 4.6 × 105 cells/ml), followed by C. brevispina at 330 mbar (19.8 ± 0.9 × 105 cells/ml) and C. vulgaris at 160 mbar (13.0 ± 1.5 × 105 cells/ml). C. brevispina, D. salina, and C. vulgaris all also displayed substantial growth at the lowest tested pressure of 80 mbar reaching concentrations of 43.4 ± 2.5 × 104, 15.8 ± 1.3 × 104, and 57.1 ± 4.5 × 104 cells per ml, respectively. These results indicate that these species are promising candidates for the development of a Mars-based BLSS using low pressure (∼200–300 mbar) greenhouses and inflatable structures that have already been conceptualized and designed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the Growth of Algae Under Low Atmospheric Pressures for Potential Food and Oxygen Production on Mars

et al. 2021

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“…The accomplishment of this goal necessitates the identification of new technologies for the sustainment of long-duration manned missions to planets beyond the Lower Earth Orbit (LEO) [ 142 ]. So far, several studies have been devoted to developing Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSSs), typically involving microalgae and cyanobacteria, which permit the production of water, oxygen, and food by totally recycling crew metabolic wastes, including exhausted cabin air [ 56 , 57 , 58 , 143 ].…”

Section: Beyond Earth: Space Sustainabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…So far, several studies have been devoted to developing Environmental Control and Life Support Systems (ECLSSs), typically involving microalgae and cyanobacteria, which permit the production of water, oxygen, and food by totally recycling crew metabolic wastes, including exhausted cabin air [ 56 , 57 , 58 , 143 ]. In this regard, Spirulina is recognized as a crucial constituent of the MELiSSA project due to its high photosynthetic efficiency, reaching values close to 6% and protein content of 60–70% wt [ 142 ]. Moreover, Spirulina can use nitrogen available in the urine water through urease-catalyzed reactions that convert urea into NH 4 + and bicarbonate, making it particularly useful for recycling astronaut’s urine [ 144 ].…”

Section: Beyond Earth: Space Sustainabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Wide Range Applications of Spirulina: From Earth to Space Missions

et al. 2022

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Spirulina is the most studied cyanobacterium species for both pharmacological applications and the food industry. The aim of the present review is to summarize the potential benefits of the use of Spirulina for improving healthcare both in space and on Earth. Regarding the first field of application, Spirulina could represent a new technology for the sustainment of long-duration manned missions to planets beyond the Lower Earth Orbit (e.g., Mars); furthermore, it could help astronauts stay healthy while exposed to a variety of stress factors that can have negative consequences even after years. As far as the second field of application, Spirulina could have an active role in various aspects of medicine, such as metabolism, oncology, ophthalmology, central and peripheral nervous systems, and nephrology. The recent findings of the capacity of Spirulina to improve stem cells mobility and to increase immune response have opened new intriguing scenarios in oncological and infectious diseases, respectively.

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“…Further, it will not always be possible to bring an energy source that can supply the power required for the duration of the mission and onboard energy conversion systems that utilize the energy sources available in space will be needed. Regarding ECLSS for long-term space missions, microalgae cultivation has been investigated as a promising solution owing to its potential to regenerate O 2 from CO 2 , high growth-rates and ability to close the carbon loop by providing a source of food [4][5][6]. Indeed, in the Photobioreactor at the Life Support Rack (PBR@LSR) experiment, an advanced microalgae photobioreactor (PBR) utilizes concentrated CO 2 from a life support rack onboard the International Space Station [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elliptic Array Luminescent Solar Concentrators for Combined Power Generation and Microalgae Growth

Talebzadeh

O’Brien

2021

Energies

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The full utilization of broadband solar irradiance is becoming increasingly useful for applications such as long-term space missions, wherein power generation from external sources and regenerative life support systems are essential. Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) can be designed to separate sunlight into photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and non-PAR to simultaneously provide for algae cultivation and electric power generation. However, the efficiency of LSCs suffers from high emission losses. In this work, we show that by shaping the LSC in the form of an elliptic array, rather than the conventional planar configuration, emission losses can be drastically reduced to the point that they are almost eliminated. Numerical results, considering the combined effects of emission, transmission and surface scattering losses show the optical efficiency of the elliptic array LSC is 63%, whereas, in comparison, the optical efficiency for conventional planar LSCs is 47.2%. Further, results from numerical simulations show that elliptic array luminescent solar concentrators can convert non-PAR and green-PAR to electric power with a conversion efficiency of ~17% for AM1.5 and 17.6% for AM0, while transmitting PAR to an underlying photobioreactor to support algae cultivation.

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Microalgae cultivation for space exploration: Assessing the potential for a new generation of waste to human life-support system for long duration space travel and planetary human habitation

Cited by 26 publications

References 24 publications

Investigating the Growth of Algae Under Low Atmospheric Pressures for Potential Food and Oxygen Production on Mars

Investigating the Growth of Algae Under Low Atmospheric Pressures for Potential Food and Oxygen Production on Mars

Wide Range Applications of Spirulina: From Earth to Space Missions

Elliptic Array Luminescent Solar Concentrators for Combined Power Generation and Microalgae Growth

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