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The use of bioregenerative components in a long-term mission closed ecological life support system (CELSS) will help lower mission costs by reducing the need for expensive resupply for oxygen, water, and food. By growing plants on a lunar base, we may be able to provide significant amounts of food and potable water while revitalizing the air supply. By processing solid wastes, we can supply growing plants with additional carbon dioxide and water. Recently, we added the capability of modeling plant growth and waste processing to the Computer-Aided System Engineering and Analysis (CASE/A) environmental control and life support system (ECLSS) modeling package. The objective of this study was to determine if a plant growth unit, embedded within a CELSS lunar base design, including a physical-chemical waste processing unit and crew, would be sufficient to handle system air revitalization requirements.

Under a presidential directive, the United States has begun preparations to return to the moon. The purpose of this new initiative is not to repeat what the Apollo missions accomplished earlier, but to build on these accomplishments. President Bush has called for a long range continuing commitment to expand human presence beyond Earth orbit. This is a program that will span decades. It will establish a permanent station on the Moon and send a manned mission to Mars. The challenge is to develop the systems and technologies necessary to travel to the Moon and Mars and to provide an environment in which the crew can safely live and work in both of these new worlds. Perhaps the most critical technology to the success of these advanced missions is that related to the basic environmental control and life support system.