Design of a mars habitat by an interdisciplinary working group – basic concepts for a life support system

Paper number

IAC-06-A1.P.2.08

Author

Mr. Martin Gruhlke, Space Research Group, Germany

Coauthor

Ms. Britta Langen, Space Research Group, Germany

Coauthor

Mr. Daniel Noelke, RWTH Aachen - Institut fuer Leichtbau, Germany

Year

2006

Abstract

In 2004, students of mechanical engineering at the RWTH Aachen University initiated a project called “Mars Habitat” and coordinated by the Department of Aerospace and Lightweight Structures of the RWTH Aachen University. Since October 2004, students of biology work on a concept for the “Environmental Control and Life support system” of a autarkic habitat for extraterrestrial use, especially on the mars. 
The broad field of interacting tasks and aspects was divided into notionally detached
Work-packages to allow solving the basic requirements in concluded topics. Fundamental aspects of production, processing and storage of food, water and waste recycling, air revitalization have been analysed for conception of efficient solutions. Furthermore, important questions of medical and psychological care are examined and integrated in the whole-concept. 

The food supply system needs to guarantee a well-balanced diet for the entire crew, taking into account the crucial limitation of required space for food production. Using the space-safing biotechnological approach of fermentation it is possible to cultivate photoautorophic organisms, which should be adapted to the defined requests by molecularbiological methods. This biological process is a centre of the whole life support system because conditioned products of water and waste treatment can be reprocessed as well as it is possible to support the reduction of carbon-dioxide of the habitat atmosphere by photoautotrophic organisms. The combination of food production and reprocessing of water and waste needs alterations by moleculargenetic methods to adapt productivity and turn-over rates. The growing of plant cells in a cultivation-chamber like a fermenter makes it possible to control the bioprocess, for example by using growth-regulation mechanisms. So it is possible to get an interface between physico-chemical processes, done by machines and a biological process and to combine it to one life support system. 

A processing of the produced cells in the fermenter results in an assortment of raw substances like sugar, protein and fatty acids. It is possible to combine these ingredients for varied meal preparation. The crew is able to prepare a fresh and well-balanced nutrition. However, this variability of nutrition and the fact that the crew is involved in food production and preparation is in psychological meaning advantageous. 

Abstract document

IAC-06-A1.P.2.08.pdf

Manuscript document

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