Performance of the CELSS Antarctic Analog Project (CAAP) crop production system

Area of Science:

• Space exploration
• Bioregenerative life support systems
• Closed Ecological Life Support Systems (CELSS)

Background:

• Regenerative life support systems promise self-sufficiency for space missions, reducing logistics and costs.
• Current plant-based systems exceed proposed resource allocations for space exploration.
• Feasibility thresholds for exploration missions necessitate improved system performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review advances in the CELSS Antarctic Analog Project (CAAP) performance.
• To assess performance against likely resource constraints for space missions.
• To evaluate a prototype CAAP crop production chamber's efficiency and output.

Main Methods:

• Operated a prototype CAAP crop production chamber at Ames Research Center.
• Incorporated unique hardware and software to boost production and energy efficiency.
• Conducted single-crop batch and mixed-crop continuous cultivation studies.
• Quantified energy usage for lighting, cooling, and other components.

Main Results:

• A mixed-crop scenario with 27 crops yielded 515 g of edible biomass per day from 17 m².
• This output represents 85% of the estimated daily requirement for one person.
• The CAAP chamber demonstrated enhanced engineering and crop production performance compared to current systems.

Conclusions:

• The CAAP prototype shows significant improvements in plant-based life support system efficiency.
• Enhanced performance brings regenerative life support systems closer to mission feasibility.
• Further development of CAAP technologies could enable sustainable long-duration space habitation.