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209:, efficiencies are lower, but ambient temperatures and pressures can be used. Photosynthesis is the process whereby plants convert light energy into chemical energy of sugars and other organic compounds. The chemical reactions utilise carbon and water with the by-product of oxygen, released into the atmosphere. MELiSSA is partly based on these photosynthetic reactions: recycling carbon dioxide into oxygen. Higher plants (wheat, rice, salad ingredients) would be utilised to produce food for the crew members. Photosynthetic micro-organisms would also be used to transform carbon dioxide into oxygen with the possibility of using the micro-organism of choice as part of the food intake, as an essential protein resource.
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and was inaugurated in 2009. It is the place where the results obtained by the MELiSSA international team are integrated and tested. The final goal of the operation of the Pilot Plant is to demonstrate, evaluate and improve the feasibility of the MELiSSA loop concept on ground conditions, in order to
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A closed ecosystem can be thought of as a mass balance between the major elements, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur and phosphorus (CHONSP), which alone represent 95% of the mass to recycle. The conversion of waste elements to resources, which can be used by crew members, can be achieved
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Space missions involving humans require essential resources to sustain life. Approximately 3.56 kg of drinkable water and 26 kg of water for hygiene is needed for each person. The longer and further the missions are, the more difficult and costly it becomes to supply resources. MELiSSA's
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Achieving near 100% for the major elements is theoretical. When compared to natural ecosystems, even Earth is not a truly closed system: every year, thousands of tons of meteoric matter fall to Earth from space, while thousands of tons of hydrogen and helium escape Earth's atmosphere. Further, an
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Unlike a natural ecosystem, which is regulated by the interaction of many different species; an artificially closed ecosystem has a reduced number of steps and it is sized and controlled to reach the desired objectives. It is akin to industrial processes, transforming raw materials into useful
299:"Microbial ecology of the closed artificial ecosystem MELiSSA (Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative): Reinventing and compartmentalizing the Earth's food and oxygen regeneration system for long-haul space exploration missions"
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artificial ecosystem is inherently dynamic; MELiSSA has to respond very quickly to changes in human behaviour. This requires a dynamic control system which is developed for each step of the process and the system as a whole.
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for long-term human space missions. Initiated in 1989, the design is inspired by a terrestrial ecosystem. As of 2023, MELiSSA is a consortium made up of 30 organisations across Europe.
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substances. However, one key difference is the targeted objective to recycle near 100% of wastes (limiting feed stock), essentially operating MELiSSA in a closed loop.
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165:, respectively. As this compartment is a fixed bed reactor, the importance of the hydrodynamic factors is slightly more important as well as more complicated.
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Hendrickx, Larissa; De Wever, Heleen; Hermans, Veronik; Mastroleo, Felice; Morin, Nicolas; Wilmotte, Annick; Janssen, Paul; Mergeay, Mergeay (2006).
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would result in high efficiencies, but a large amount of energy is required in terms of temperature and pressure. In biological processes, using
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and kitchen waste, as well as the non-edible parts of the higher plant compartment (i.e. straw and roots). The compartment's aim is to
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Lasseur, C.; Brunet, J.; de Weever, H.; Dixon, M.; Dussap, G.; Godia, F.; Leys, N.; Mergeay, M.; Van Der
Straeten, D. (August 2010).
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184:, and the higher plant compartment. These compartments are essential for the regeneration of oxygen and the production of food.
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The AstroPlant initiative of MELiSSA recruits citizen scientists to help create systems for potential space farming projects
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This compartment is responsible for the elimination of the terminal products of the liquefying compartment; mainly the
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246:– film highlights a brief introduction to the research program and information presented on the current Pilot Plant
340:"Gravitational and Space Biology 23(2) August 2010 3 MELiSSA: THE EUROPEAN PROJECT OF CLOSED LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM"
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to autonomously recycle the wastes to oxygen, water and food with only the input of energy to drive the process.
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produced from waste to nitrates, which is the most favourable source of nitrogen for higher plants as well as
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and minerals. For biosafety reasons and for optimum degradation efficiency, the compartment operates in
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276:"MELiSSA (Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative) Program — Extra-Terrestrial Ecosystems"
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guide the future developments towards a regenerative life support system for space applications.
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The loop is made up of 4 compartments with the crew members at the centre. The compartments are:
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conditions (55 °C). The process of degradation in this compartment is carried out by
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European Space Agency led consortium developing life support systems for space missions
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by two means: physiochemically or biologically. Physiochemical processes such as the
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38:(ESA) initiative with the aim to develop the technology for a future regenerative
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This compartment is the collection point for all mission waste, such as
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The nitrifying compartment's main function is to cycle NH
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The fourth compartment is split into two parts: the
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The photoheterotrophic compartment (compartment 2):
169:The photoautotrophic compartment (compartment 4):
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213:Distinctive features of the artificial ecosystem
51:aim is to ideally create an artificially closed
28:Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative
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252:The current MELiSSA Pilot Plant is located at
188:Operating principle of an artificial ecosystem
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123:The nitrifying compartment (compartment 3):
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137:. The compartment is composed of a mix of
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254:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
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865:Spacecraft life support systems
344:Gravitational and Space Biology
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786:Multi-Purpose Logistics Module
513:German Space Operations Center
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244:MELiSSA Space Research Program
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177:compartment, colonised by the
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769:European Retrievable Carrier
318:10.1016/j.resmic.2005.06.014
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712:International Space Station
382:MELiSSA Documentary (Video)
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508:Columbus Control Centre
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855:European Space Agency
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182:Arthrospira platensis
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36:European Space Agency
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599:Planned and proposed
527:Earth-based research
117:volatile fatty acids
103:, saccharolysis and
93:volatile fatty acids
46:Life support concept
779:Faint Object Camera
549:European Space Camp
387:MELiSSA Pilot Plant
312:. Elsevier: 77–86.
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860:Spaceflight
748:Tranquility
705:Interkosmos
661:Soyuz TMA-M
567:Airbus A310
226:Pilot plant
146:Nitrobacter
101:proteolysis
849:Categories
496:Facilities
278:. eoPortal
261:References
719:programme
656:Soyuz-TMA
544:Euro-MARS
53:ecosystem
791:Spacelab
727:Columbus
722:Modules
651:Soyuz-TM
590:Soyuz-MS
554:MARS-500
428:European
81:ammonium
741:Harmony
700:Euromir
559:MELiSSA
438:General
34:) is a
32:MELiSSA
734:Cupola
646:Hermes
625:Skylon
583:Active
564:Zero-G
354:10 May
350:(2): 9
323:10 May
282:10 May
157:and NO
762:Other
717:ELIPS
613:Orion
607:DC4EU
534:AMASE
302:(PDF)
175:algae
161:to NO
153:to NO
641:CSTS
356:2023
325:2023
284:2023
143:and
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73:urea
26:The
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314:doi
310:157
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