Abstract
Space microbiological research, with a particular emphasis on cyanobac teria and microalgae, has garnered significant attention over the past five decades. The quest for suitable microbes is pivotal in facilitating human habitation on both Luna and the Martian surface, given the inhospitable atmospheric conditions, including low temperature, atmospheric pressure, and the imperative need for fun damental life-sustaining resources such as oxygen and water. This chapter eluci dates the pivotal role of these microorganisms in supporting manned missions to Mars, examining the current landscape of research successes and failures in estab lishing a sustainable bioregenerative life support system (LSS). It explores ongoing endeavors to unravel mysteries and identifies prospective avenues for further inves tigation. Furthermore, it probes the potential of these microbes to instigate oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon cycles within closed-loop systems, thereby diminishing reli ance on resource storage or resupply missions and, consequently, mitigating the overall cost of space missions. The chapter also scrutinizes the technical challenges encountered in cyanobacteria and microalgae space experiments, particularly in their cultivation on Luna and Mars. Nevertheless, current research remains confined to a limited array of microbes, leaving a plethora of unresolved issues, including the imperative task of large-scale cultivation of these organisms amidst the synergistic effects of substantial stresses such as weightlessness, cosmic radiation, elevated CO2 levels, and low atmospheric pressure, all crucial for both lunar and Martian manned space missions.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Cyanobacteria Biotechnology |
Subtitle of host publication | Sustainability of Water-Energy-Environment Nexus |
Publisher | Springer Nature |
Pages | 269-295 |
Number of pages | 27 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9783031706981 |
ISBN (Print) | 9783031706974 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1 Jan 2024 |
Keywords
- Crewed deep-space missions
- Cyanobacteria
- Life support system
- Microalgae
- Space