AquaHab - from a science and technology verification system to an integrated CELSS subsystem
- Paper number
IAC-06-A1.5.05
- Author
Mr. Matthias Dünne, OHB-System AG, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Klaus Slenzka, OHB-System AG, Germany
- Year
2006
- Abstract
Bioregenerative closed ecological life support systems (CELSS) will be necessary in the exploration context revitalizing atmosphere and waste water, producing food for the human CELSS mates as well as biomonitoring the quality of the limited resource water. The CELSS design can also be serve to reduce negative human psychological issues in the sense of having pets or an own aquaria available. Human exploratory missions will require a set-up of human habitable units. From the actual point of view a transfer of whole units to the outposts seems not being possible to be realized. Thus a step-by-step development and evolution is necessary taking into account transfer systems capable to grow to larger units before arrival of the crew. The identification of the science and technology requirements is a first step in this series. The experiences gained during the last years in our research group lead to the development of a closed aquatic habitat, called AquaHab, which is a self-sustaining system with a total water volume of 9 liters, containing fish, snails, amphipods, plants and bacteria. Parameters such as the oxygen concentration, pH and temperature are continuously recorded, stored and controlled. Long term test runs up to 5 months without interaction were performed already. AquaHab was developed in the last years to a test system for prospective ecotoxicological risk assessment of chemicals and drugs. Being based on the CEBAS Minimodule it is also "space proven" including the ecophysiological components. AquaHab can use the cabin air for CO2 removal enhancing the water plant growth. In parallel oxygen is produced to be used in the system as well as for enrichment of the air. In addition culturing fish is a primary food source. Water quality can be monitored sensitively using different endpoints and species. Genetically engineered algae as well as fluorescent proteins in different species, combined with different subcellular endpoints for toxicity (e.g. heat shock proteins), the behaviour of fish, the respiration rate and photosynthetic activity are main online endpoints/indicators, enabling AquaHab being an “Early Warning Tool”. An overview of the AquaHab-system and its programmatic development will be presented at the Congress.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-A1.5.05.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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