Preparatory activities for a photobioreactor spaceflight experiment enabling microalgae cultivation for supporting humans in space
- Paper number
IAC-15,A1,7,7,x28818
- Author
Dr. Stefan Belz, University of Stuttgart, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Jens Bretschneider, University of Stuttgart, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Harald Helisch, University of Stuttgart, Germany
- Coauthor
Ms. Gisela Detrell Domingo, Technical University of Catalonia (UPC), Spain
- Coauthor
Mr. Jochen Keppler, University of Stuttgart, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Winfried Burger, University of Stuttgart, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Ali Yesil, University of Stuttgart, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Marco Binnig, Institute of Space Systems, Universität Stuttgart, Germany
- Coauthor
Prof. Stefanos Fasoulas, University of Stuttgart, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Norbert Henn, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Peter Kern, Airbus DS GmbH, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Heinz Hartstein, Airbus DS, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Carsten Matthias, Airbus DS, Germany
- Year
2015
- Abstract
Biological technologies are an essential step to close the carbon loop in life support systems (LSS), which is important for future and far-distant exploration missions. Based on photosynthesis and able to be combined with physicochemical systems, microalgae are able to generate edible biomass and release oxygen. Algae cultivation in aquatic reservoirs reaches up to ten time higher growth rates and significant lower energy and volume investments than higher plants, and neither a hydroponic basis nor soil are needed. Up to 30\% of human food can be covered by algae biomass, limited by the high protein content of edible algae species. Research on the biology is important (driving question: what happens to microalgae in space environment?), but it is also challenging from a technical point of view to provide a mass and energy efficient photobioreactor (PBR) system and downstream processing (driving question: how to cultivate and use microalgae?). Mass und energy benefits strongly depend on cultivation techniques, illumination (sun light, artificial) and gravity level (µg in space or partial g on planetary surfaces), but also on the mission scenario (transfer, orbit, surface). The paper gives an overview of past microalgae studies and current developments for space applications. Need of research for single technologies within a PBR system is identified in terms of technological readiness (TRL), particularly the supply with carbon dioxide, cultivation chamber, oxygen extraction, illumination control, optical density measurement, sensors for carbon dioxide, oxygen and pH value, absorber/filters for humidity and volatile organic compounds, techniques of nutrients supply and harvesting, as well as techniques of downstream processing (such as cross-flow filters). From this point, the experimental setup of a PBR experiment on the International Space Station is presented focusing on three major objectives. It will demonstrate the functionality/feasibility in a real environment, the short- and long-term (half a year at least) performance of photosynthetic conversion of concentrated carbon dioxide into biomass and oxygen, and the stability of the algae system under microgravity and higher radiation conditions.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-15,A1,7,7,x28818.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.