National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The Lunar Mars LifeThe Lunar Mars Life Support Test 

P j tProject

Daniel J. Barta, Ph.D.Manager, Next Generation Life Support ProjectNASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX

26 May 201626 May 2016

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20160006345 2018-06-09T06:04:28+00:00Z

BackgroundNASA’s Large Scale Bioregenerative Life Support Tests

KSC’s Biomass Production Chamber• Large-scale closed crop testing• Control system development• Evaluation of robotic arm (Florida State)• Wastewater processing by crops• Trace gas evolution & microbial ecology

JSC’s Large Scale Human-In-The Loop TestingThe-Loop Testing•Large-scale crop testing•Human test subjects•Closed atmosphere•Closed atmosphere• Integration of physicochemical and biological technologies

Lunar Mars Life Support Test Project (LMLSTP)

F t t ith h t t bj t f d b t 1995 d 1998

Test Phase I Phase II Phase IIA Phase III

Four tests with human test subjects were performed between 1995 and 1998 at NASA’s Johnson Space Center

Duration 15 days 30 days 60 days 91 days

Crew 1 4 4 4

I t t dTypes of Systems

Biological (Wheat)

Physicochemical(Advanced)

Physicochemical(ISS Regenerative

ECLSS)

Integrated Physicochemical

& Biological (Advanced)( d a ced)

Full Closure Air Air & Water Air & Water Air & Water

PartialPartialClosure

Food & Waste

Open Water, F d & F d & W t F d & W t

3

Open Loop Food &

WasteFood & Waste Food & Waste

Lunar Mars Life Support Test ProjectPhase I: 15-day, 1-Person Test

T t F ilitCREW CABIN GROWTH CHAMBERTest Facility • 2.7 m wide by 2.4 m tall atmospherically sealed with 2 compartments – 19.2 m3 (crew 

(11.2 m2 growing area)

CO2O2 CO2 O2 CO2 CO2

p (cabin) & 27 m3 (growth chamber).  • Growth chamber section outfitted with a hydroponic

2

O2 Concentrator

O2

outfitted with a hydroponic growing system for wheat. • Leak rate <2% volume per day

O2Net Photosynthesis (PS n)Respiration

LMLSTP Phase I: 15-day, 1-Person TestExpected rate of photosynthesis of a wheat crop

n

70

80

1 61.82.0

ty per d

ay

ssim

ilatio

n

Cultivar: Yecora RojoGrowing Area 11.2 m2

PPF 1500 2 1

Crop Carbon Dioxide

Assimilation

50

60

1.21.41.6

2 /hr)

on C

apac

itqu

ival

ents

Dio

xide

As PPF: 1500 m-2 s-1

Photoperiod: 24 hrAssimilation

30

40

0.60.81.0

ms/

11.2

m2

evita

lizat

iota

bolic

Eq

s C

arbo

n D

Human Daily Requirement for Carbon Dioxide Removal

0

10

20

0 00.20.4

(gra

m

Air

Re

Hum

an m

e

ynth

esis

as 15-Day Test

656055504540353025201510500 0.0

Days After Seeding

H

p P

hoto

sy

The growth chamber was expected to exceed the carbon dioxide removal it d d ti i t f d i th

5

Cro capacity and oxygen production requirement for one person during the

15 day period selected for the test (shaded).

Curve derived from Bugbee and Salisbury “Exploring the Limits of Crop Productivity”

LMLSTP Phase I: 15-day, 1-Person TestControl of Atmospheric Composition

Th th d f t lli t h i CO d O d t t dThree methods for controlling atmospheric CO2 and O2 were demonstrated. Physicochemical (P/C) systems were used to correct for imbalances between crew respiration and crop photosynthesis (PSn) was regulated directly.

Method of Control

Integrated P/C & Biological

Environmental Regulation of PSn

Environmental Regulation of PSn

Days of Test 1-6 7-12 13-15y

Photosynthesis Maximum Limited by Light Intensity

Limited by CO2Availability

D i ti P/C Systems Crop CO2 Assimilation Matched to Crew Description yCorrect Imbalance

p 2CO2 Output Respiration

Photosynthetic Photon Flux Fixed Intensity

Intensity AdjustedContinuously to Fixed Intensity

(Light Level) Maintain Cabin [CO2]Supplemental CO2 Injection

Inject to maintain cabin [CO2]

Contingency Only

6

P/C O2 Scrubber Remove O2 to maintain cabin [O2]

Contingency Only

Demonstrated three control strategies

LMLSTP Phase I: 15-day, 1-Person TestControl of Atmospheric Composition

Demonstrated three control strategies1. Full light, CO2 injected to maintain [CO2] setpoint2. Light dimmed to maintain [CO2] setpoint3 No automated control; light at intermediate3. No automated control; light at intermediate

setpoint; CO2 limited to crew member respiration

90

100

) Exercise

40

50

60

70

80

90

Car

bon

Dio

xide

(g/h

r Exercise

Activity Level when Awake

2422201816141210864200

10

20

30

Hours

Res

pire

d C

Sleep

Hours

Test Subject Metabolic Profile

LMLSTP Phase I Test ResultsDaily Removal of Carbon Dioxide from Cabin Atmosphere

Daily removal of atmospheric carbon dioxide by the wheat crop over its life cycle

2.0

2.5

Test Subject Respiration

mila

tion Source of Carbon Dioxide

1.5

Supplemental CO2

xide

Ass

ims

(kg/

day)

1.0

arbo

n D

iox

by P

lant

s

0.0

0.5Ca

8

6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 64 66 68

Days from seeding

LMLSTP Phase I Test Results Oxygen Concentration in the Cabin Atmosphere

• During the first control period, O2 production by the wheat exceeded the crew member’s respiration requirement. Physicochemical (P/C) systems were used to remove excess O2 and maintained

i b l i i l l lconcentrations below a critical level.• During the 2nd and 3rd control periods, net photosynthesis (PSn) was matched to the crew member’s CO2 output and cabin [O2] slowly fell.

22

ion

(%)

Net Photosynthetic Rate Matchedto Crew Respiration

(carbon dioxide removal requirement)

Maximum Rate of PSn(human requirements

were exceeded)

21

once

ntra

t (carbon dioxide removal requirement)were exceeded)

20

xyge

n C

o

90 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Day of Human Test

Ox

LMLSTP Phase I Test Results Ethylene Concentration in the Cabin Atmosphere

10

LMLSTP Phase I Test Results Evapotranspiration

35

40

25

30

35

m-2

d-1)

15-dayHumanTest

15

20

25

pira

tion

(L Test

5

10

15

Side ASide Bva

potra

nsp

70656055504540353025201510500

5 Side B

Ev

11

Days from seeding

LMLSTP Phase III: Overview

4 b f 91 d• 4 crew members for 91 days• Demonstrated an integration of advanced regenerative biological and physicochemical (P/C) technologies for life support(P/C) technologies for life support.

• Two chamber facilities were interconnected• Air revitalization System

– Higher plants compliment P/C systems• Water Recovery System

– Microbial cell bioreactors were used for the primary treatment step

• Food System– The stored food system was supplemented with wheat grain for bread and fresh lettucefor bread and fresh lettuce grown in situ

• Waste Management System (Demonstrations)

I i i f h f

12

– Incineration of human feces– Biodegradation of plant inedible materials

Lunar Mars Life Support Test ProjectPhase III, 4-person, 91-day Test

4BMSCHx

Lunar Heat Pump

ChilledWater

CO2Ai

Growth ChamberLife Support Systems Integration Facility

4BMS

CO2Storage

Water SaveCO2 Removal

CHx

Air CO2

CO2CH4Air

CO2

CO2

CO2Bottles

HydroponicSystem

r Com

p

CO2

PotableH2O

CRS

H20

CO2 Removal

O2H2O

H2 H2

Bottles

H2OAir

OxygenConcentratorAir

y

CHxCondensate

Air

O2O2Bottles

Excess DS

OGS

Incinerator

H2O

O2

O2TCCSGermination

Air

CondensateManualTransfer

Donor Urine

Bioreactor Vent

H2O

Salad

I H2O

Supply

Wheat Manual Transfer

VCD VA BackupWasteTank

UrinePretreat

PWS

IncineratorTransfer

Feces Manual Transfer

Backup Urine

IncineratorCondensate

Machine

DI H2OSupply

VRA

MF

a l Mili-Q

PWS

Air Evap

Potable H2OWater Manual Transfer

Urin

e

Was

te W

aterRecovered Water M

CV

& Filter VRA

Feed

13

BioFeed

ICB

ROAm

mon

iaR

emov

a Mili QTFBROProd

BioProd

Waste Water

RecyclePost Process

Bio Air

LMLSTP Phase III: Growth Chamber ConfigurationThe 11 2 m2 growth chamber was divided into 2 sides A and B each with aThe 11.2 m2 growth chamber was divided into 2 sides, A and B, each with a separate hydroponic system.• Side A: standard hydroponic nutrient solution formula• Side B: nutrients derived from inedible biomass Each side had 4 growing zones. After the chamber was fully planted, wheat was harvested and re-planted in a staged, serial fashion, in increments of ¼ of the planted area, approximately every 20 days.

A 1 B 3

G r o w in g Z o n eP a ir s

A 1A 3 B 1

B 3

A 2 A 4 B 2 B 4

S t a n d a rdN u t r ie n t S a l t s

R e c y c l e dN u t r ie n t S a l t s

S o u r c e o f S a l t s f o rH y d r o p o n i c S y s t e m

LMLSTP Phase III: Predicted atmosphere revitalization with batch cropping

1 5

2

2.5

izat

ion

Day

) A1B3A2B4A3B1

Phase I Test

0.5

1

1.5

Air

Rev

ital

(PE

per D A3B1

A4B2Total

00 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225

Day of Test

A

A4B2A3B1A2B4

838383

838383

Atmosphere revitalization predicted from CO2 assimilation from “Apogee” Wheat

A2B4A1B3

8383

8383

grown at a PAR level of 1500 m-2 s-1 and a 24 hr photoperiod, given that all four quarters of the growth chamber were planted and harvested sequentially at the same time.

LMLSTP Phase III: Predicted atmosphere revitalization with staged cropping

1.5

2

zatio

n ay

)A1B3A2B4A3B1

0.5

1

Air

Rev

italiz

(PE

per D

A3B1A4B2Total

00 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200

Day of Test

A

A4B2A3B1

1838

8383

8383

A2B4A1B3

5882

838383

Atmosphere revitalization predicted from CO2 assimilation from “Apogee” Wheat grown at a PAR level of 1500 m-2 s-1 and a 24 hr photoperiod

LMLSTP Phase III: Waste Management System Demonstrations

Bi l i l D d ti f I diblBiological Degradation of Inedible Biomass and Recovery of Nutrient Salts

• ½ of the wheat’s inedible biomass was mineralized using a stirred tank aerobicmineralized using a stirred tank aerobic bioreactor.

• Recovered nutrient salts were returned to the plant growth systems. p g y

• Average degradation of total solids: 45% ( ≈ 26 kg biomass was treated)

• Average salt recovery: 80%Average salt recovery: 80%.

Incineration of Human Feces and Recovery of Carbon DioxideRecovery of Carbon Dioxide

• Human feces (8.2 kg total) were incinerated in a fluidized bed incinerator.

• Carbon dioxide exhaust was injected• Carbon dioxide exhaust was injected into the wheat chamber after treatment for trace contaminants

LMLSTP Phase III Results: Actual Air Revitalization (CO2 Removal) vs Predicted

2

11.21.41.61.8

2vi

taliz

atio

nO

2pe

r Day

)Predicted

Actual

00.20.40.60.8

1

Air

Rev

(kg

CO

00 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225

Day of test

Actual Planting and Harvesting

Schedule Performed

Test Deviations & Anomolies• To reduce test costs, the last quarter of chamber (A2B4) was not replanted• Crop nutrient management was inadequate

– the first crops planted took up excessive amounts of K & P– the first crops planted took up excessive amounts of K & P– this resulted in nutrient deficiency stress in later crops, with secondary affects on

growth, yield and resistance to disease organisms– an opportunistic Fusarium infection was observed in stressed plants

LMLSTP Phase III Results: Wheat Yield

Yield By Staged CropYield By Staged Crop

1 2

1 4

1 6

(kg)

G ra inIn e d ib le

4

6

8

1 0

ry B

iom

ass

0

2

4

23/9

7

23/9

7

23/9

7

23/9

7

/7/9

7

27/9

7

16/9

7

/2/9

7

/7/9

7

21/9

7

Dr

1 8 8 08 18 28 63 97 87 95 83 8

Mean Grain YieldYield By Nutrient Source

7/2

7/2

7/2

7/2 8 8/2

9/1

10 10 10/2

D a te S e e d e dW h ite n u m b e rs in b a rs : A g e a t h a rv e s t

Mean Grain Yield(kg) (kg m-2) Harvest Index

Side A (Pure Salts) 10.48 1.87 36.5Side B (Biologically Recovered Salts) 11.4 2.03 38.8

Yield By Nutrient Source

Total Chamber 21.88 1.95 37.7

Harvested grain was introduced into the Human Chamber to make bread. Fresh bread was baked every 5 days.

LMLSTP Phase III Results: Lettuce Production System

• Lettuce was grown in a small growth chamber located within the crew living space.

• The chamber contained a 0.22 m2

growing area illuminated with light emitting diodes (LEDs) providing 189 mol s-1 m-2 photosynthetic photon fluxmol s 1 m 2 photosynthetic photon flux.

• Sequentially planted every 11 days, with 8 harvests during the 91 day-test, 4 plants per harvestplants per harvest

• Average shoot fresh mass per plant was 157 g (5.5 oz) at an average of 31.5 days from seedingdays from seeding• Average Harvest Index

69% Amount Consumed/Total83% Shoot/Total83% Shoot/Total

• Average daily rate of make-up water use was 3.18 L m-2 d-1 for 64.5 total liters

Prime Farmland?