Microbial biomanufacturing for space-exploration-what to take and when to make.

Area of Science:

• Space Exploration
• Biotechnology
• Biomanufacturing

Background:

• Renewed interest in human space exploration necessitates advanced mission design and planning strategies.
• Biotechnology presents a viable solution for increasing mission resilience, flexibility, and efficiency.
• Effective utilization of in-situ resources and waste reclamation are key benefits of biotechnology in space.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline a staged biomanufacturing strategy for Moon and Mars missions.
• To identify mission-specific challenges in integrating biomanufacturing.
• To quantify the techno-economic benefits of in-space biomanufacturing.

Main Methods:

• Defined four primary mission classes for Moon and Mars.
• Developed staged and accretive biomanufacturing strategies for each class.
• Quantified the usefulness of in-space biomanufacturing through design scenarios.

Main Results:

• Biomanufacturing strategies must be tailored to mission-specific resources and loop-closure requirements.
• Materials production is a key area for biomanufacturing, significantly impacting up-mass costs.
• The benefits of biomanufacturing increase with mission duration and distance from Earth.

Conclusions:

• Biomanufacturing is crucial for sustainable, long-term space exploration.
• Techno-economic analysis guides the integration of biomanufacturing into mission architectures.
• Advancements in space biomanufacturing can foster a circular bioeconomy on Earth.