Considerations in miniaturizing simplified agro-ecosystems for advanced life support

Area of Science:

• Space exploration
• Biogeochemical cycles
• Advanced life support systems

Background:

• Space missions require miniaturized Earth biogeochemical cycles for life support.
• NASA's advanced life support program focuses on reducing mass, volume, and power.
• Key efforts include simplified agro-ecosystems and optimized crop production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline NASA's research and engineering goals for advanced life support.
• To detail strategies for creating sustainable human habitats in space.
• To explore the role of mathematical modeling in optimizing space agro-ecosystems.

Main Methods:

• Developing a simplified agro-ecosystem with humans, crops, and microbes.
• Designing for optimal crop productivity using hydroponics, high light, and controlled environments.
• Employing genetic selection for improved crop traits.
• Utilizing mathematical modeling for trade-off analysis and crop growth simulation.

Main Results:

• Focus on a simplified human-crop-microbe system for space life support.
• Optimized crop production strategies include hydroponics, controlled environments, and genetic selection.
• Mathematical models aid in analyzing crop development and potential for increased harvest index.

Conclusions:

• Miniaturizing biogeochemical cycles is crucial for long-duration space missions.
• Integrated agro-ecosystem design and crop optimization are key to advanced life support.
• Mathematical modeling offers valuable insights for system development and efficiency improvements.