Browsing by Author "Grubbs, Patrick"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3

1st International Space Ecology Workshop - Research Needs & Roadmap to the Future
(2023 International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2023-07-16) Escobar, Christine; Grubbs, Patrick; Lantin, Stephen; Shevtsov, Jane; Taub, Frieda; Damlo, Sherri
Self-sufficient life support systems will be crucial for meeting the physical and mental health needs of crew during long-term, deep space exploration missions and for maintaining a permanent human presence in space. Closing the material loop with food production and waste recycling is necessary to reduce reliance on Earth resupply. Closed ecological systems (CES) can utilize a combination of biological, ecological, and physicochemical processes to support human life. A space habitat can be considered an artificial ecosystem in which human beings exchange energy and material with other system components and their extraterrestrial environment. The inaugural International Space Ecology Workshop was held on October 22, 2022, to promote and organize CES research internationally and to reignite interest in the ecological systems approach to space life support. This workshop brought together engineers, space biologists, and ecologists to discuss the past, present, and future of CES that could enable indefinite, sustainable human exploration of space, as well as sustainable living on Earth. Specific workshop goals were to review research needs and knowledge gained to date, connect active professionals in the field, and plan next steps for closing knowledge and technology gaps. This paper summarizes the proceedings and a Space Ecology Roadmap for prioritizing and guiding future action.
A Constellation of Dreamers: Advancing Space Exploration through Democratization
(2023 International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2023-07-16) Ngarambe, Daniella; Grubbs, Patrick; Trepos, Anatole; Bourlette, Florent; Ben Slimane, Tarek; Fleischer, Louise
The New Space industry gives us an opportunity to prioritize a new generation of space exploration, driven less by military and state needs and more by commercial and private interests. Despite progress, space remains inaccessible to many, with only six nations sending astronauts to space in 2021. To prevent underrepresented demographics from being excluded, the Spring Institute aims to democratize space creating opportunities for engagement for individuals from diverse nationalities and disciplines - and to do it in such a way that enables them to return their knowledge and experience to their homes. We do so by creating and collaborating on projects, proposals, and grants; as well as hosting events like hackathon challenges with local organizations, universities, and governments to encourage action in communities. Some of The Spring Institute's goals being to generate usable data for citizen science initiatives, leveraging their network and skills imparted by these collaborations. By championing the strength and resilience afforded by a diverse community of scientists, engineers, artists, and dreamers, The Spring Institute for Forests on the Moon will accomplish its objective of building a functional ecosystem in a lunar environment. We hope to inspire generations to continue looking towards the stars that are our shared cultural heritage.
SCAMPI Project: Design of an Aquatic Closed Ecological System for Microgravity
(2023 International Conference on Environmental Systems, 2023-07-16) Ben Slimane, Tarek; Torchia, Costanza; Grubbs, Patrick; Galvan Lobo, Jorge; Ropero, Alvaro; Alberto Rodriguez, Jorge; Smith, Joshua; Berger, Anatole; Roche, Solène
Long-duration crewed space missions require bioregenerative life support solutions to improve mission sustainability and resiliency in the harsh environment of space. Understanding the impact of the space environment on Earth ecosystems is a critical next step in developing such solutions. This manuscript presents the experimental design of the SCAMPI Project (Saltwater Crustacean, Algae, and Microbe Population Investigation), a student mission to investigate the effect of microgravity and increased radiation on a multitrophic aquatic closed ecological system. The team is developing a custom payload, consisting of a sealed aquarium and instrumentation suite, to be integrated into the ICE Cubes facility onboard the International Space Station. Remote monitoring will collect data and imagery on the biotic and abiotic factors within the closed environment, informing a digital twin simulation that is being developed concurrently. This experiment will be the latest in a short list of ecosystem-scale experiments to fly in space, and address fundamental knowledge gaps including microbial community dynamics in microgravity. Ultimately, SCAMPI will provide data to inform the design of future closed ecological life support technologies by validating the hypothesis that Earth's ecosystems can function nominally in the space environment. The experiment is currently being built as a part of ESA's PETRI program and anticipates launching in early 2025.