Space controlled ecology

Technological advancements have provided humans opportunities not only to explore the far reaches of space but also have open possibilities to set up colonies. Such settlements or long-term missions require physical and psychological adaptation to the complex environment of the space. Though the earth can provide all the necessary ingredients to support life and therefore can be relied upon for resupply, those missions cannot be extended very far or often. Moreover, the exposure to the space environment, for a long time, causes health implications in astronauts, hindering long-term research on and in the space environment on humans. The space conditions experienced by the astronauts can be simulated on Earth to some extent through analog research to gain a better understanding of the interaction between the space environment and humans. Therefore this chapter discusses various analog research models developed over the years for the study of relationships between organisms and the space environment and how those outcomes can be translated for designing better space ecosystems.