Bioreactors and biomaterials in space architecture

This paper addresses two concepts of potential interest for long-duration human exploration spacecraft and habitat design: the use of bioreactors and the use of phot-synthetic biomaterials.

There is an increasing interest in bioreactors in spacecraft and habitat designs for manned long-term exploration missions based on their capacity to address issues related with carbon and water cycles in life support systems. Using photosynthesis and in combination with physico-chemical systems, bioreactors could generate edible biomass, release oxygen from carbon dioxide, and synthetize exogenous amino acids such serotonin or pharmaceutics required for human health, as well as natural substrates for biomaterials. The mass and energy efficiency of photo-bioreactor system with downstream processing depend on the type of cells or organisms, cultivation techniques, gravity level, illumination (intensity, frequency distribution, variation) and generic mission parameters (transfer, orbit, surface). In this study we provide trade space for these parameters based on basic system analysis considerations.

We specifically describe photosynthetic biomaterial able to climatise isolated areas in life support systems using moss species called Orthotrichum anomalum which is particularly resistant for desiccation and harsh environmental conditions. This plant is widespread on Earth including in polar regions and the Himalayas, where they grow on rocks and receive nutrients from air. Such protonema moss cells could be mounted in breathable polymer which might be used for interior fabrics.