Nitrification consultancy for the pilot plant of MELiSSA, the regenerative life support system van ESA.

Long-term missions to Mars or the Moon require an autonomous production of crucial crew consumables such food, oxygen and water. Regenerative life support systems (RLSS) can refine and upgrade available streams (e.g. kitchen waste, faecal matter, urine, shower water and condensate) to such essential products. MELiSSA (micro-ecological life support system alternative) is the RLSS programme of the European space agency (ESA). Nitrification is a microbial process and plays a key role in MELiSSA, produce a stable nitrate-rich stream available for food production, with plants and microalgae. Expert consultancy to the MELiSSA pilot plant at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona should ensure a swift integration of nitrification in the complete life support loop.

Keywords:AEROSPACE, ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY, NUTRIENTS, BIOTECHNOLOGY

Disciplines:Astronomy and space sciences, Microbiology, Systems biology, Laboratory medicine

Project type:Service project