Life Support Subsystem Concepts for Botanical Experiments of Long Duration

1986 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. R. Loser
Keyword(s):  
Author(s):  
Boris F. ZARETSKIY ◽  
Arkadiy S. GUZENBERG ◽  
Igor A. SHANGIN

Life support for first manned spaceflights was based on supplies of consumables. Crew life support systems based on supplies of water and oxygen, in spite of their simplicity, are extremely inefficient in orbital space missions and are unfeasible in deep space missions because of mass and volume constraints. Therefore, there are currently developed and are to be used on space stations the life support systems that are based on chemical and physical regeneration of water and oxygen extracted from human waste. In view of further advances in long-duration orbital stations, and the prospects of establishment of planetary outposts and deep space exploration, the problem of constructing an automated system for controlling a suite of regenerative LSS becomes urgent. The complexity of solving the problem of constructing an efficient control system in this case owes to the existence of a large number of effectiveness criteria. The paper proposes a system of consolidated global efficiency criteria, which allows to break up this problem into a series of sub-problems of optimization in order to solve this problem. The proposed criteria are longevity, cost, comfort. The paper presents a series of specific examples of using the proposed principles with necessary generalizations. Key words: space life support systems, atmosphere revitalization equipment, automated control system, global generalized efficiency criteria, longevity, cost, comfort.


Author(s):  
Stephen Barsi ◽  
Mohammad Kassemi

Self-pressurization and pressure control of cryogenic storage tanks have important design consequences for propellant and life support systems currently being planned for long duration space missions. During self-pressurization, the tank's liquid fill level and the heat load from the surroundings can have significant effects on the tank's thermal stratification and pressurization rate. When controlling pressure with a mixing jet, the velocity and temperature of the jet are important design parameters affecting the thermal destratification and pressure reduction time constants. In this work, a small-scale ground-based experiment was performed, as a precursor to a microgravity experiment, to investigate the effects of these variables on the pressurization and pressure control time constants in the tank and to assess the feasibility of using a forced jet mixer for reduced boil-off pressure control. Local pointwise temperature and pressure measurements, together with qualitative contours of the thermal field in the liquid, vapor, and wall region, were made to identify and characterize important self-pressurization and pressure control trends in 1 g.


Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 687
Author(s):  
Petronia Carillo ◽  
Biagio Morrone ◽  
Giovanna Marta Fusco ◽  
Stefania De Pascale ◽  
Youssef Rouphael

The possibility of prolonging space missions—and consequently the permanence of humans in space—depends on the possibility of providing them with an adequate supply of fresh foods to meet their nutritional requirements. This would allow space travelers to mitigate health risks associated with exposure to space radiation, microgravity and psychological stress. In this review, we attempt to critically summarize existing studies with the aim of suggesting possible solutions to overcome the challenges to develop a bio-regenerative life support system (BLSS) that can contribute to life support, supplying food and O2, while removing CO2 on the International Space Station (ISS). We describe the physical constraints and energy requirements for ISS farming in relation to space and energy resources, the problems related to lighting systems and criteria for selecting plants suitable for farming in space and microgravity. Clearly, the dimensions of a growth hardware that can be placed on ISS do not allow to produce enough fresh food to supplement the stored, packaged diet of astronauts; however, experimentation on ISS is pivotal for implementing plant growth systems and paves the way for the next long-duration space missions, including those in cis-lunar space and to the lunar surface.


Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1896
Author(s):  
Leone Ermes Romano ◽  
Giovanna Aronne

To colonise other planets, self-sufficiency of space missions is mandatory. To date, the most promising technology to support long-duration missions is the bioregenerative life support system (BLSS), in which plants as autotrophs play a crucial role in recycling wastes and producing food and oxygen. We reviewed the scientific literature on duckweed (Lemnaceae) and reported available information on plant biological traits, nutritional features, biomass production, and space applications, especially of the genus Wolffia. Results confirmed that the smallest existing higher plants are the best candidate for space BLSS. We discussed needs for further research before criticalities to be addressed to finalise the adoption of Wolffia species for space missions.


HortScience ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 731e-731
Author(s):  
S. Burrell ◽  
D. Mortley ◽  
P. Loretan ◽  
A.A Trotman ◽  
P. P David ◽  
...  

The effects of light intensity on three sweetpotato cultivars [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam] were evaluated in growth chambers, as part of NASA's Closed Ecological Life Support Systems (CELSS) program for long duration space missions. Vine cuttings of `TI-155', `GA Jet', and TUJ1 were grown using nutrient film technique (NFT) in a modified half Hoagland's solution with a 1:2.4 N:K ratio in channels (0.15×0.15×1.2 m). Plants were exposed to irradiance levels of 360 or 720 umols m-2s-1 with an 18/6 photoperiod in a randomized complete block design with two replications. Temperature was set at 28:22 lightdark and RH was 70%. Differences in plant response to were more related to cultivars than the effect of light intensity. Storage root number (8) fresh, (786 g/plant) and dry weights (139 g/plant) were highest for `TI-155' while foliage fresh and dry weights were highest for `TUJ1' when averaged across light levels. TI-155' (921 g/plant) and `GA Jet' (538 g/plant) produced greater yields at higher irradiance. `TUJ1' produced a higher yield (438 g/plant at the lower intensity compared to 219 (g/plant) at the higher intensity, suggesting this cultivar could produce storage roots in similar conditions in a CELSS.


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